Quick answer
When is Election Day 2020?
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Election Day 2020 is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Federal general Election Day falls on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, so it can occur from November 2 through November 8. Check local schedules for schools, events, employers, and travel plans.
Open the November 2020 calendar, print a monthly PDF, or subscribe to the United States holiday calendar in Google, Apple, or Outlook.
Varies by state and location. See all U.S. public holidays for a full 2020 list.
Month calendar
November 2020
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Federal general Election Day falls on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, so it can occur from November 2 through November 8.
Varies by state and location
Election Day is not a nationwide annual federal employee holiday. State voting-leave rules, school closures, and state or local holidays vary.
What Election Day means in the United States
Federal general Election Day falls on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. That wording matters: the date can be November 2 through November 8, and it is not simply the first Tuesday in every possible calendar layout. This page models the federal general-election date rule; presidential, congressional, state, and local contests do not all appear on every year’s ballot.
Election Day is not one of the annual nationwide federal employee holidays. Some states or local governments close offices or schools, and many states regulate voting leave, but those rules are not uniform. A normal-looking Tuesday on a federal office calendar can still be an operationally unusual day near polling places, schools used as vote centers, and local government buildings.
The exact Tuesday is only one deadline in a voting plan. Registration deadlines, absentee-ballot request dates, return or postmark rules, early-voting windows, voter-identification requirements, and polling hours are set through state-specific processes. Use this page for the date anchor, then follow the official state or local election-office link provided through USAGov or the Election Assistance Commission.
For employers, do not turn a generic calendar label into a universal paid-day-off promise. Check the employee’s state voting-leave rule and publish a clear internal process for time away from work. For schools and families, confirm whether the building is used as a polling place or whether the district schedules a teacher workday.
At a glance
- Tuesday after the first Monday in November; November 2–8
- Not a nationwide annual federal employee holiday
- State voting leave, school closure, registration, and ballot rules vary
- Use an official state or local election office for deadlines and polling details
Practical planning
- Verify registration and absentee-ballot deadlines with your state election office.
- Check polling hours, identification rules, and location close to Election Day.
- Employers should confirm state voting-leave requirements before publishing schedules.
- Parents should check whether their school building closes or changes access for voting.
Primary sources and jurisdiction notes
- USAGov voting and elections
Official federal portal for election dates, registration, early voting, and state election offices.
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Official voter guidance and links to state election contacts.
How 2020 compares to 2019
In 2019, the date was Tuesday, November 5, 2019; in 2020, it is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. It falls 1 calendar day earlier within the year than last year's occurrence. The recurring rule is unchanged, so use the exact date when planning leave, school notices, or travel.
Last year: Tuesday, November 5, 2019 · This page: Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Other U.S. observances in November 2020
Same month, different rules—useful when you are planning November travel or event spacing.
- Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11, 2020
- Thanksgiving — Thursday, November 26, 2020
- Black Friday — Friday, November 27, 2020
- Cyber Monday — Monday, November 30, 2020
Weekends, time off, and scheduling
Long weekends, substitute days, and school make-up days vary. Use the exact date with your employer, school, or state calendar when planning travel and time off.
When Election Day falls (multi-year)
Compare exact calendar dates and weekdays from 2018 through 2027 for travel, school, and work planning.
| Year | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Nov 6 | Tuesday |
| 2019 | Nov 5 | Tuesday |
| 2020 this page | Nov 3 | Tuesday |
| 2021 | Nov 2 | Tuesday |
| 2022 | Nov 8 | Tuesday |
| 2023 | Nov 7 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | Nov 5 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | Nov 4 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | Nov 3 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | Nov 2 | Tuesday |
Questions about Election Day 2020
When is Election Day 2020, exactly?
Election Day in 2020 is Tuesday, November 3, 2020 (use your local time zone for same-day events). The date on the calendar is fixed by the U.S. rule in our guide, not a guess. If you need a single ISO-style line for travel systems, the date is 2020-11-03.
Why does Election Day land on that Tuesday in 2020?
Federal general Election Day falls on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, so it can occur from November 2 through November 8. For many people, the more important part is the weekday: when the rule pins the day to a Monday, Thursday, Sunday, or an Easter-related offset, you can plan closures and family plans even before you look up the exact month-day.
How does the 2020 date compare to 2019?
In 2019, the date was Tuesday, November 5, 2019; in 2020, it is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. It falls 1 calendar day earlier within the year than last year's occurrence. The recurring rule is unchanged, so use the exact date when planning leave, school notices, or travel.
Is Election Day 2020 a U.S. federal public holiday, and do banks and post offices close?
This date is not a universal “everyone is off work” U.S. federal public holiday in the same way as, for example, New Year’s Day. Election Day is not a nationwide annual federal employee holiday. State voting-leave rules, school closures, and state or local holidays vary. If you are checking “open or closed” for a specific place, use that organization’s own holiday list rather than a generic U.S. label alone.
What about Election Day in 2021—and how should I use the multi-year table?
In 2021, Election Day is Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Use the table to compare several years at once and spot when the observance falls near a trip, budget cycle, or school-year boundary. Open the full year calendar to check adjacent holidays before finalizing plans.
Where can I see this day on a full U.S. holiday list and in my own calendar?
The United States public-holiday list for 2020 (with long-weekend notes) is on anycalendar.org/holidays/us. You can also open the november 2020 month view, the full 2020 year view, and use the subscribe and print tools on AnyCalendar to move these dates into Google, Apple, Outlook, or a PDF you can print.