Do federal employees get Election Day off? OPM voting leave rules for November 3, 2026

Published October 31, 2026 · By the OnPAR Federal Retirement Education editorial team · Last updated October 31, 2026

Short answer: No. Election Day is not a federal holiday, so most federal employees work their regular schedule on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. OPM's current policy lets your agency give you a limited amount of paid administrative leave to vote, generally no more than three hours, but only when you have no reasonable opportunity to vote outside your regular work hours and only if the time off doesn't interfere with agency operations. It's up to your agency, not an automatic right.

What OPM's current policy says

OPM's Administrative Leave fact sheet says that, consistent with Executive Order 14148 of January 20, 2025, OPM rescinded two earlier memos ("Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting," CPM 2022-05, and "Access to Voting," CPM 2024-18). Agencies are told to return to the longstanding practice:

• The head of each agency (or a designee) has discretion to grant administrative leave for voting.
• Only in limited circumstances where there is no reasonable opportunity to vote outside regular work hours.
• Only to the extent the time off does not interfere with agency operations.
• It should generally be limited to the hours needed to vote and generally not exceed three hours.

Early voting on a workday

Per the same OPM fact sheet, agencies should grant administrative leave for early voting on a scheduled workday only when:

• you can't vote on Election Day because of activities directly related to the agency's mission (such as TDY travel) and you can't vote by absentee ballot or by early voting on a non-workday; or
• early voting hours are the same as, or longer than, voting hours on Election Day.

Poll workers and poll observers

OPM's agency policy template says administrative leave may not be used to cover service as a poll worker or poll observer, partisan or nonpartisan, paid or unpaid. OPM's October 19, 2026 final rule (91 FR 65924) writes this into regulation and lists, as an example acceptable use, leave "to provide an employee who has not voted early with a reasonable opportunity to vote on a regular election day." That rule takes effect November 18, 2026, after this year's election; the OPM fact sheet policy above is what applies on November 3. The rule does not stop you from serving as a poll worker; it only means you'd use annual leave or other non-administrative time.

What to do before Tuesday

• Check your polling hours with your state or local election office and compare them with your work schedule and commute.
• If you have time before or after work, plan to vote then. That is what the policy expects.
• If you truly can't, ask your supervisor in advance about administrative leave for voting and follow your agency's procedures. Your agency's own policy may be narrower.
• Otherwise, you can request annual leave, use a flexible or compressed schedule if your agency allows it, or vote early or absentee where your state permits.

Does it affect my retirement?

Administrative leave is paid leave without loss of pay, leave, or credit for time or service (5 CFR 630.1402). A few hours of voting leave doesn't change your FERS service or high-3.

Education only, not legal or financial advice. Your agency's leave policy controls. Sources: OPM Administrative Leave fact sheet; OPM federal holidays; Federal Register, 91 FR 65924.

Questions and answers

Is Election Day a federal holiday?

No. Election Day is not on the list of federal holidays OPM publishes, so federal employees normally work their regular schedule.

Can I get paid time off to vote as a federal employee?

Possibly. Under OPM policy your agency head or designee may grant administrative leave for voting only when you have no reasonable opportunity to vote outside your regular work hours and it does not interfere with agency operations. It should generally be limited to the time needed to vote and generally not exceed three hours.

Can I get administrative leave for early voting?

Only in narrow cases: when you cannot vote on Election Day because of mission-related activities such as TDY travel and cannot vote absentee or early on a non-workday, or when early voting hours are the same as or exceed Election Day voting hours.

Can I get administrative leave to be a poll worker?

No. OPM policy says administrative leave may not be used to cover service as a poll worker or poll observer, whether partisan or nonpartisan and whether paid or unpaid. You can still serve using annual leave or off-duty time.

Does voting leave affect my FERS retirement?

No. Administrative leave is paid leave without loss of pay, leave, or credit for time or service under 5 CFR 630.1402.