US midterm elections 2026: Are banks open on Election Day? Is the US stock market open today? November 3 trading schedule for Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq

Banks and financial markets will follow their regular schedules on Tuesday, November 3, as Americans vote in the 2026 midterm elections. Election Day is not a federal holiday, so bank branches, USPS offices and major delivery services are generally expected to operate as usual. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are also scheduled to remain open.

Here is what to know about bank hours, the federal holiday status and the US stock market schedule on November 3.

Are banks open on Election Day 2026, November 3?

Banks across the United States are generally expected to remain open on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Customers should be able to visit branches during their normal business hours, use ATMs and access online banking services.


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Election Day is not an official Federal Reserve holiday. Banks generally follow the Federal Reserve's holiday calendar when deciding whether to close their branches. Since November 3 is not listed as a Federal Reserve holiday, there is no nationwide requirement for banks to shut their doors.

However, individual banks may have different branch schedules. Some locations may operate with shorter hours or local arrangements. Customers planning an important transaction should check their branch's opening hours before visiting.

Is November 3 a federal holiday in the US?

November 3, 2026, is not a federal holiday in the United States. Election Day is an important national voting event, but it is not included in the list of annual federal public holidays.

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This means federal offices are not automatically closed, and most private businesses are not required to give employees the day off.

Some states have their own rules for Election Day leave. These rules can allow eligible workers to take time off to vote, depending on where they live and work. However, such provisions do not mean that the entire state observes a public holiday.

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For example, Oklahoma does not recognise Election Day as a state holiday. Its voting leave law provides eligible employees with time to vote under certain conditions.

Is the stock market open today? NYSE and Nasdaq trading hours

The US stock market is scheduled to operate normally on November 3. Both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will remain open for regular trading.

The official 2026 trading calendars of both exchanges do not list Election Day as a market holiday. This means investors can buy and sell stocks during the usual trading session.

The regular US stock market timings are:

• Opening time: 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
• Closing time: 4 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
• Trading days: Monday to Friday, except scheduled market holidays.

US stock futures were mostly lower early Tuesday, November 3, ahead of the regular trading session. Dow Jones futures fell 464 points, or 0.89%, to 51,669, while S&P 500 futures slipped 17 points, or 0.22%, to 7,557.50. Nasdaq futures were nearly unchanged at 28,126, down just 1.50 points, or 0.01%.

In commodities, oil prices moved higher, with WTI crude rising 2.15% to $98.53 a barrel and Brent crude gaining 1.74% to $106.59.

Gold fell 1.39% to $3,914.60, while silver dropped 3.76% to $48.98.

Will USPS, UPS and FedEx operate on Election Day?

Since November 3 is not a federal holiday, the US Postal Service is expected to maintain its regular operations. Post offices should remain open, and normal mail delivery is expected to continue.

UPS and FedEx are also expected to follow their usual delivery schedules. Customers who are waiting for important parcels can check their tracking information for any location-specific changes.

Can employees get time off to vote on November 3?

Although Election Day is not a public holiday across the country, some states have laws that protect employees who need time away from work to vote.

Oklahoma is one example. State law allows eligible registered voters to receive up to two hours away from work to vote, subject to certain conditions.

However, the benefit is not automatic for every employee. Workers must generally request the time at least three days before the intended absence. Employers can decide which hours employees may take, and the benefit may not apply when workers already have a three-hour period to vote before or after their normal working hours.

Employees who provide proof of voting are protected from losing their pay or facing another penalty for an eligible absence.

Rules differ across states, so employees should check their local voting leave laws before making plans.

What should customers check before visiting a bank?

Even though banks are generally open, customers should not assume that every branch will follow identical timings.

Confirm whether your local branch is following its regular Tuesday schedule.

ATMs should remain available, although individual machines can run out of cash or experience technical problems.

Mobile and internet banking services should continue to operate.

Check processing times for transactions that depend on Federal Reserve payment services, particularly if they involve other banking holidays or cut-off times.