Are banks or schools closed on election day? What's Open and Closed – NBC Chicago

From schools to banks to post offices and more, what's actually open and closed on Election Day in Illinois?

Election Day is an official state holiday for the 2024 election season, meaning certain things are closed. However, this is not the case in every state as the day is not considered a federal holiday.

Although many businesses remain open, Illinois law allows workers to take two hours of paid leave to vote on Election Day. You can also cast your ballot early through absentee voting or early voting, available at hundreds of locations across the state.

Here's what to expect:

Schools

Children in K-12 public schools are not required to attend classes.

Illinois law states that any school that is not in session on Election Day can be used as a polling place by local authorities.

Private schools are not covered by the provisions of the law, which means that students in these institutions can still have classes on Tuesday. Universities are also not included because students in the University of Illinois system will still have classes on Election Day.

Banks

While some have tried to make Election Day a federal holiday in the past, they have not been successful so far. As a result, many banks, federal facilities including courthouses and most stores will be open Tuesday, officials said.

DMVs

Secretary of State Driver Services locations will also be closed, but some public libraries may be open depending on location.

Courthouses and other public buildings

Officials said district and state courts will be closed on Election Day and proceedings will resume the following day.

Federal courts will not be closed as the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan continues during Tuesday's vote. According to the judge in charge, the jury will be excused from voting during the day.

Post offices

Because Election Day is not a federal holiday, all post offices will be open and mail delivery will continue as usual.