The polls are open — these services are not.
With Election Day officially upon us, voters are taking time off work in droves to cast their ballots.
In fact, New York is one of five states where employers are required to give employees paid time off to vote.
This politically-motivated exodus has left many Americans to wonder whether their post offices, banks and other services will be shuttered on Tuesday, November 5.
People voting at polling booths on the Upper West Side. Robert MillerAs a service to voters, we’ve provided a handy guide on which businesses and services will be open on E-day, because, unlike voting, running errands on Election Day is not an open-and-shut process.
Banks
A SunTrust Banks Inc. branch in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bloomberg via Getty ImagesElection Day is a not federal holiday, so banks and ATMs will be operating their regular hours. However, some local branches will be closed so people should check the schedule of the cash house in question before going there.
Post offices
United States Post Office at Radio City Station in Manhattan, New York. UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesNeither snow nor rain nor Election Day can stop the mail. Just like the banks, the US Postal Service adheres to the federal holiday schedule and will be up and running on November 5.
However, USPS advised those who are voting by mail to post their ballot by October 29 to ensure timely delivery.
UPS and FedEx will also be delivering on Election Day.
Schools
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Since Election Day is a public holiday in New York City, schools are closed to help facilitate voting — some are even converted into polling stations.
In New Jersey, public school closures depend on the district while private school policies vary depending on their individual school calendars.
Meanwhile, closure policies also differ among states that don’t recognize Election Day as a holiday so parents should check their school calendars for their schedules.
Transit
Election Day won’t impact New York transit operations such as the subway (pictured). James MesserschmidtElection Day doesn’t affect Big Apple transit operations. The NYC subway, buses, Metro-North, Long Island Railroad, PATH, and New Jersey transit will adhere to their normal schedule on Election Day.
Retailers
Walmart and other retails will be open on Election Day. Christopher SadowskiMost big-box retail bazaars will be open — including Costco, Walmart and Target — however a few have adjusted their hours so that their employees can vote.
Bath & Body Works outlets will open at noon in their local time zones rather than the retailer’s usual 10 am opening time “to allow store associates time to vote before stores open,” a company spokesperson told CBS in an email.
Courts and the DMV
The Department Of Motor Vehicles and other state services will be closed in states that recognize Election Day as a public holiday. Newsday via Getty ImagesThis is where things get a bit ambiguous.
State offices will be closed in New York, New Jersey and the other 14 states that recognize Election Day as an official holiday, meaning that courts in those states will be off and people won’t be able to land an appointment at the DMV.
Other state administrative services will be shuttered as well.
However, many of these services will likely stay open in states that don’t observe the holiday.
