Election Day 2025 in the United States

Election Day in the United States is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. It is when Americans vote for federal, state, and local public officials, including the President, Congress, governors, and other representatives.

Is Election Day a Public Holiday?

Election Day is not a federal holiday. Congress has never designated it as a federal “observance” like Flag Day or Patriot Day.

Instead, it is observed nationwide in the civic sense: voters across all 50 states and the District of Columbia take part in elections. The District of Columbia participates fully in presidential elections and partially in congressional representation.

Some states recognize Election Day as a public holiday, either annually or biennially.

What Is Election Day?

Election Day is the official day when registered voters in the United States go to the polls to cast their ballots for federal, state, and local elections.

It plays a central role in American democracy, offering citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders and decide on public issues through direct vote. While it most prominently features races for President, Congress, and state legislatures, it also includes contests for local offices and ballot initiatives.

The day reflects one of the foundational principles of the US system—representative government through free and fair elections.

When Is Election Day in the US?

In the United States, Election Day is observed on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Federal elections for Congress take place on this date in even-numbered years, and presidential elections every four years. Many states and localities also hold elections on this day in both even- and odd-numbered years, so the date always falls between November 2 and November 8.

Not all elections occur on the federal Election Day; some localities hold elections at different times throughout the year for various reasons, including special elections to replace officials who have died or resigned, or special funding initiatives to pay for the recovery from natural disasters.

Modern Observance and Participation

Although not a traditional “holiday,” Election Day is one of the most significant civic events in the United States. Americans vote to elect federal, state, and local officials, including:

• The President and Vice President (every four years)
• All members of the House of Representatives (every two years)
• One-third of the Senate (every two years)
• Governors, state legislators, mayors, judges, and ballot initiatives, depending on the jurisdiction

Many states also allow early voting and vote-by-mail, which has grown in popularity, especially since 2020. The rules for these non-Election Day voting methods vary by state.

Public Life and Services

Government offices and schools may close in states where Election Day is a public holiday.

Elsewhere, businesses generally remain open, though employers in some states are legally required to allow workers time off to vote.

Public transport services may run on modified schedules, and many community centers, libraries, and schools serve as polling places.

It’s always best to check local opening hours and transport schedules ahead of time.

Historical Background

Before the mid-1800s, US states set their own election dates within a 34-day period before the Electoral College convened. However, this created opportunities for early results in one state to influence voting in others.

Congress passed the Presidential Election Day Act in 1845 to standardize the process, establishing a single federal election day for presidential contests. The law was later extended to House and Senate elections.

The choice of November stems from the 19th-century agricultural calendar. November came after the busy harvest season but before the hardships of winter, making it a practical time for rural voters to travel to polling places.

Tuesday was chosen for practical and religious reasons. Sunday was set aside for church, and Wednesday was often market day in rural communities. Tuesday allowed voters enough time to travel to the polls without interfering with religious observance or commerce.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many states prohibited the sale of alcohol on Election Day. The reasoning was to prevent political operatives from buying drinks for votes and to reduce alcohol-related disturbances at or near polling sites.

These laws have now been repealed; the remaining laws were abolished in South Carolina and Kentucky in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

Did You Know?

• The US Constitution does not specify a single Election Day—Congress set the date by statute in 1845.
• The phrase “the Tuesday after the first Monday” was chosen in that 1845 statute to prevent Election Day from falling on November 1, which is widely observed as All Saints’ Day and was also a common date for annual financial settlements in the 19th century.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.