You're standing in line at the local community center, clutching your voter registration card, and suddenly it hits you. You wonder if the Dow is currently tanking or skyrocketing while you're waiting for your "I Voted" sticker. It's a common thought. Most of us assume that a day this monumental for the country must mean everything else pauses. But honestly? Wall Street doesn't really do "pauses."
If you’re looking for a quick answer: Yes, the stock markets are open on Election Day.
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Whether it’s a high-stakes presidential race or a quieter midterm cycle, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq keep their doors open. They don't treat the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as a holiday. It's a regular trading day. 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Business as usual.
The Weird History of Closing the Floor
It wasn't always like this. Believe it or not, the markets used to close for elections. For a huge chunk of the 20th century, the NYSE would shut down to let people go vote. It felt like a civic duty. They did it in 1972, 1976, and 1980. But then, in 1984, they just... stopped.
Why?
Technology happened. As trading moved from frantic guys shouting on a floor to servers humming in data centers, the "need" to close vanished. Plus, the U.S. is kinda weird compared to other countries. Most OECD nations—places like Germany or Japan—either vote on weekends or make the day a full-blown national holiday. Here, we keep the ticker tapes running.
Are the Markets Open on Election Day for Everyone?
While the stock market is a "yes," the bond market is a "maybe-sorta." This is where it gets slightly confusing. The stock market follows the NYSE calendar. The bond market, however, follows recommendations from SIFMA (the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association).
Usually, the bond market stays open on Election Day too, but they are much more likely to observe federal holidays like Veterans Day (which often falls close to election time). If you're trading Treasury notes, you've gotta check the SIFMA schedule specifically, because they sometimes play by different rules than the equity guys.
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Banking vs. Trading
Don't confuse the two. Your local bank might be closed if your state recognizes Election Day as a public holiday (places like Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, and New York do). But just because your teller isn't there doesn't mean the electronic markets aren't churning.
Does the Market Actually Move on Election Day?
People get really worked up about "Election Day volatility." You've probably seen the headlines. "Markets brace for impact!" "Investors flee to safety!"
In reality, the day itself is often surprisingly quiet.
According to historical data from the S&P 500, the market actually tends to go up on Election Day. There's this weird sense of optimism. We've seen an average positive return of about 0.92% on these days. It’s like the market is breathing a sigh of relief that the campaigning is finally over.
But watch out for the "Wednesday Hangover."
Historically, the day after the election is when the reality sets in. If the results are contested or if a "pro-business" candidate loses unexpectedly, the market can get cranky. The S&P 500 has actually closed lower the day after an election about 65% of the time.
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2026 and Beyond: What to Watch
As we look toward the 2026 midterms, the schedule remains the same.
- November 3, 2026: Markets will be open.
- Regular Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Pre-market/After-hours: These will function exactly like any other Tuesday.
There's always some talk in Congress about making Election Day a federal holiday. Representative Anna Eshoo and others have pushed for it for years. If that ever happens, the NYSE might finally decide to sync up and close. But until then, the machines will keep matching buy and sell orders while you're in the voting booth.
What You Should Actually Do
Don't panic-trade. That's the best advice any pro will give you.
The market hates uncertainty more than it hates any specific political party. Once a winner is declared—even if it's not "your" candidate—the uncertainty evaporates. That's why we often see a "relief rally" in the weeks following a settled election.
If you're worried about your portfolio, look at the sectors, not the person. Different administrations favor different industries.
- Renewables might thrive under one.
- Traditional Energy or Defense might see a bump under another.
Instead of worrying if the markets are open on election day, focus on whether your long-term strategy can survive four years of either side. Because historically, the market goes up over time regardless of who’s sitting in the Oval Office.
Next Steps for You:
Check your portfolio's exposure to high-volatility sectors like Big Tech or Energy about two weeks before the vote. If you can't stomach a 5% swing in either direction, you might want to rebalance into more stable "defensive" stocks like utilities or consumer staples before the polls even open.