US ELECTION 2024
Are post offices open and deliveries taking place during the US election? UPS, Amazon, FedEx, DHL...
The focus is on Tuesday’s US presidential election but will the USPS be affected? Are post offices open? Will mail be delivered? We explain all here.
The countdown to Tuesday’s US presidential elections is underway. With a sizable number of early vote ballots already in, polling places are preparing to open their doors to those who will be casting their votes in person on the day.
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Follow AS’s live coverage of Election Day and the count in swing states
Republican candidate, Donald Trump, is seeking to return to the White House for a second term, while the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, hopes to become the country’s first female president.
As it’s such a important day across the United States, some may wonder if post offices will be closed. Let’s take a look to see how Election Day will affect the United States Postal Service (USPS), UPS, Amazon, FedEx and DHL and whether there will be service as normal.
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Are post offices open and deliveries taking place during the US election?
Each post office decides which days of the year it closes. Generally, closures occur on official federal holidays only, but is Election Day included in their list of holidays? Here’s what to expect.
United States Postal Service (USPS)
According to the USPS holiday calendar, mail delivery will be the same on Election Day since it is not a federal holiday. As for election mail, while post offices are open, voters are not advised to drop off their mail-in ballots this Tuesday. The USPS recommended mailing the ballot by Tuesday 29 October at the latest, to ensure it arrives on time.
The Postal Service is deploying extraordinary measures in the final weeks of the election season to swiftly move Ballot Mail entered close to or on Election Day and/or the state’s return deadline.
In 2024, the USPS will close on November 11 for Veterans Day, November 28 for Thanksgiving, and December 25 for Christmas Day.
United Parcel Service (UPS)
As with the United States Postal Service, the United Parcel Service (UPS) does not include Election Day as a holiday, so branches will be open from the usual times - 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For the remainder of this year, UPS will be closed on November 28 for Thanksgiving and December 25 for Christmas.
Amazon
Good news - Amazon will be operating as normal on Election Day.
FedEx
This parcel company will also be open this Tuesday, November 5. According to its holiday schedule, FedEx will operate with modified services on November 11, which is Veterans Day, while it will be closed for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
DHL
As it is not a public holiday, DHL will remain open on Election Day on November 5. This year, branches will be closed on November 28 (Thanksgiving) and Christmas Day (December 25).
Only five states: Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New York and West Virginia recognize Election Day as a public holiday, with employers requiring to give workers paid time off to vote.
So to summarize, there will be no disruptions, whether you are sending mail or getting parcels delivered on Election Day.