Millions of parents ask the same question today. The answer depends on where you live.
Election Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, November 3. Voters will choose members of Congress, governors, and local leaders.
Election Day is not a federal holiday. Banks, post offices, and federal offices stay open as usual.
No national law forces schools to close. Each state and school district sets its own calendar.
About 14 states treat Election Day as a state holiday, including New York, Virginia, Illinois, and Michigan.
A survey of 179 districts found about 58 percent have no school on November 3. The rest hold class.
Every tracked district closes in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
Every tracked district holds class in Arkansas, Mississippi, and North Dakota. Many other states are mixed.
The main reason schools close is voting logistics. Gyms and cafeterias double as polling places for hundreds of voters.
New York City students will learn from home on Election Day. It is the first time the city has done this.
Public schools in Alexandria have no classes on Tuesday. Polls open from 6 AM to 7 PM.
The only sure answer is local. Check your district calendar tonight, and read the full explainer on Rive News.
Get the full breakdown, key numbers, and what happens next.
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