Election Day 2025: Complete Guide to College Schedules, & Campus Closures

Most colleges and universities across the United States will hold regular classes on Election Day 2025 (Tuesday, November 4, 2025).

However, a small but growing number of institutions have canceled classes to support student voting and civic engagement.

Your specific campus schedule depends on your institution’s policy, state requirements, and whether your school has adopted a “Day On Democracy” commitment.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025, marks an important off-year general election focused primarily on local, county, and municipal offices rather than federal positions.

While this date doesn’t feature presidential or congressional races, these local elections directly impact issues that affect college communities—including campus zoning, local taxes, police accountability, and public services funding.

According to Day On Democracy tracking data, approximately 86 colleges (roughly 2.2% of the 3,896 degree-granting institutions nationwide) canceled classes during the 2024 federal election cycle.

For the 2025 off-year election, that number is expected to be even smaller, as many institutions limit their Election Day policies to presidential or midterm election years.

Why College Schedules Vary on Election Day

The answer to whether your college has classes on Election Day 2025 isn’t straightforward. Three primary factors determine campus schedules:

Academic Calendar Requirements: Universities must fulfill minimum instructional hours mandated by accreditation bodies and state regulations. Academic calendars are typically set 12 to 18 months in advance, making mid-year changes complex.

Human Resources and Employee Holiday Policies: Some institutions designate Election Day as an administrative holiday for staff while keeping classes in session. This creates confusion when the “university closed” designation applies only to offices, not classrooms.

Institutional Mission and Student Advocacy: Colleges with strong civic engagement commitments or successful student activism campaigns are more likely to cancel classes. Faculty senates, student governments, and campus leadership all influence these decisions.

State laws add another layer of complexity. For example, Kentucky statute explicitly designates the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in presidential election years as a state holiday for public universities.

Since 2025 is not a presidential year, Kentucky public colleges are legally required to remain open on November 4, 2025.

Which Colleges Canceled Classes for Election Day 2025

Based on official academic calendars and institutional announcements, here’s what we know about specific colleges:

Partial Day Suspensions

Carnegie Mellon University has designated Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as “Democracy Day,” with no classes scheduled before 5:00 PM. This approach maximizes voting access during peak hours while preserving evening instructional time.

George Mason University lists Election Day 2025 as a student holiday with no classes held. The campus remains operational, with Merten Hall serving as an active polling location from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Special Circumstances and Unit-Level Closures

Several institutions maintain regular undergraduate schedules while specific schools or divisions cancel classes:

• University of Virginia College of Arts & Sciences: No classes
• University of Virginia School of Law: No classes
• Temple University Law School: No classes
• University of Michigan Law School: No classes
• Drexel University: No classes across all divisions

Institutions Maintaining Regular Schedules

The majority of major universities will hold classes on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, including:

• University of Texas at Austin
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Duke University
• Yale College (undergraduate)
• Princeton University
• University of California system campuses (Berkeley, UCLA, and others)

Princeton University notably rejected making Election Day a holiday despite an 89% student referendum vote in favor of the change.

The administration cited the availability of mail-in voting in New Jersey as a sufficient accommodation.

What the Different Policy Models Mean for Students

Colleges approach Election Day through four distinct frameworks:

Standard Instructional Day

Classes and all administrative operations proceed normally. The institution may provide voting resources, shuttle services to polling places, and educational programming, but does not modify the academic schedule. This represents the most common approach nationwide.

Academic Day of Engagement (Student Holiday)

All classes are canceled, creating a student holiday dedicated to voting and civic participation. Administrative offices, dining services, and campus operations remain functional. George Mason University exemplifies this model, canceling classes while maintaining campus services and hosting an active polling location.

Partial Class Suspension

Institutions cancel classes during peak voting hours (typically before 5:00 PM) while maintaining evening instruction. Carnegie Mellon’s Democracy Day policy follows this structure, balancing civic access with instructional hour requirements.

Divisional Autonomy

Professional schools cancel classes independently while the broader university maintains regular operations. Yale University demonstrates this pattern: Yale Law School lists “Election Day. No classes” on November 4, 2025, while Yale College holds regular classes.

If Your College Canceled Classes: How to Prepare

When your institution designates Election Day as a holiday or cancels classes, plan accordingly:

Confirm Campus Services: Verify operating hours for dining halls, libraries, residence halls, and student services. Some facilities operate on reduced schedules even when classes are canceled.

Locate Your Polling Place: Use your state’s election website or campus voter resources to find your assigned polling location. Many universities host on-campus polling sites—George Mason’s Merten Hall, for example, serves as a major voting location.

Register Early: Confirm your voter registration well in advance of November 4, 2025. College students face unique challenges with residency requirements, especially if voting in a different state than their permanent address.

Explore Volunteer Opportunities: Many campuses organize poll worker training, voter registration drives, and election watch parties. George Mason’s “Get Your Vote On” programming includes food, civic education activities, and community gatherings.

Plan Transportation: If voting off-campus, arrange transportation early. Some universities provide shuttle services to distant polling locations—Texas A&M-Commerce, for instance, offers shuttles because the nearest early voting site sits more than 14 miles from campus.

If Your College Maintains Regular Classes: Voting Strategies

When classes remain scheduled on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, you still have multiple options for casting your ballot:

Early Voting

Most states offer early voting periods extending several days or weeks before Election Day. Check your state’s election website for locations, dates, and hours. Early voting eliminates the time conflict between classes and polling place access.

Absentee and Mail-In Ballots

Request an absentee ballot if you cannot vote in person on Election Day. Be aware of state-specific deadlines, which typically fall 7 to 14 days before the election. Some states require specific justifications for absentee voting, while others allow any registered voter to request mail-in ballots.

Request Excused Absence from Professors

Most faculty members will accommodate voting-related absences if requested professionally and in advance. Use this email template:

“Dear Professor [Name],

Tuesday, November 4, 2025, is Election Day, and I need time during our class period to fulfill my civic duty to vote. Would it be possible to receive the lecture recording, attend office hours for a brief catch-up, or complete an alternative assignment to make up for my absence?

I will ensure all other coursework remains current and would appreciate any flexibility you can provide. Thank you for supporting civic engagement.

Sincerely, [Your Name]”

Know Your State’s “In-Line” Rules

Many states allow voters who are in line when polls close to cast their ballots. If your class schedule creates tight timing, verify your state’s policy. Arriving at your polling place before closing time protects your right to vote even if lines are long.

Leverage Campus Resources

Universities frequently maintain voter information hubs listing:

• On-campus polling locations
• Shuttle schedules to off-campus voting sites
• Ballot drop box locations
• Voter ID requirements
• Registration assistance contacts

How Faculty Are Responding When Classes Remain Scheduled

Inside Higher Ed reporting reveals that professors adopt various strategies when institutional calendars don’t accommodate Election Day:

Individual Class Cancellations: Many instructors independently cancel class sessions to eliminate barriers to student voting.

Hybrid or Asynchronous Options: Faculty move classes online or provide recorded lectures, allowing students flexibility to vote at convenient times.

Optional Attendance: Some professors hold class but make attendance voluntary, ensuring students who need to vote face no academic penalty.

No High-Stakes Deadlines: Michigan Technological University formalizes this approach through Senate Policy 607.1, which prohibits scheduling major exams, projects, presentations, or papers on Election Day in even-numbered years. While this policy technically applies to federal election years, individual departments may extend it to off-year elections.

If your professor doesn’t proactively offer accommodations, request alternatives early in the semester. Frame your request around logistics rather than politics, emphasizing the practical time conflict between voting and class attendance.

The Student Perspective: Why Scheduling Matters

Research from the Campus Vote Project reveals significant barriers when colleges maintain regular schedules on Election Day:

Time Poverty: Nearly half of college students who didn’t vote in 2016 cited conflicting commitments as their primary barrier. When classes, labs, work shifts, and voting all compete for time on a Tuesday, many students—particularly those balancing employment and academics—find participation impossible.

Transportation Challenges: Mobile students without consistent vehicle access face substantial obstacles reaching polling places. The Census Bureau found that 13.1% of registered voters who abstained in the 2020 election cited being too busy or having conflicting schedules.

Long Polling Lines: Poll closures in recent elections have increased wait times at remaining locations. Students with back-to-back classes cannot afford extended waits without missing academic obligations.

Registration and Residency Complexity: High student mobility rates create confusion about registration requirements, especially when voting in a different state than their permanent address.

According to the Campus Vote Project, 81% of college students are registered voters, but only 73% planned to vote in surveyed elections, suggesting registration alone doesn’t overcome logistical barriers.

The Princeton University student referendum—where 89% voted in favor of making Election Day a holiday—illustrates widespread student demand.

The administration’s rejection of this mandate, citing mail-in voting availability, demonstrates the ongoing tension between student needs and institutional calendar rigidity.

State Laws and Institutional Requirements

States with Presidential-Year Mandates

Several states mandate Election Day holidays for public institutions only during presidential election years. Kentucky’s statute (KRS 2.190) explicitly limits the requirement to presidential Novembers, meaning Kentucky public colleges must be open on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

States with Broader Requirements

Stony Brook University (part of the SUNY system) lists November 4, 2025, as “Election Day and a state holiday” on its official calendar. This suggests adherence to a statewide calendar that incorporates all general elections, not just federal cycles.

Private Institution Autonomy

Private colleges and universities determine their own policies without state-mandated compliance. Ivy League institutions, small liberal arts colleges, and private research universities show significant variation in their approaches, often influenced by student activism intensity and institutional mission statements.

Statistical Snapshot: Election Day 2025 Observance Patterns

These estimates derive from Day On Democracy tracking data and institutional calendar reviews. The total represents degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States.

Voting Logistics: Essential Checklist for College Students

Six Weeks Before Election Day (mid-September 2025):

• Verify voter registration status
• Confirm your current address is accurate in voter records
• Request absentee ballot if needed (check state deadlines)

Two Weeks Before (mid-October 2025):

• Locate your assigned polling place
• Research candidates and ballot measures
• Identify early voting locations and hours
• Contact professors about potential schedule conflicts

One Week Before:

• Confirm polling location hasn’t changed
• Gather required voter ID documents
• Plan transportation route and timing
• Download sample ballot to reduce time at polls

Tuesday, November 4, 2025:

• Arrive at polling place with sufficient time buffer
• Bring valid identification
• Use student-friendly guides for local races
• Report any voting problems to campus election protection hotlines

Beyond November 4: Building Year-Round Civic Infrastructure

Progressive institutions are moving beyond single-day accommodations toward comprehensive civic engagement frameworks:

Expanded Voting Windows: Rather than focusing solely on Election Day, some universities advocate for accommodations throughout early voting periods and for primary elections and caucuses.

Federal Work-Study Integration: Institutions can utilize Federal Work-Study resources to support student positions as poll workers or nonpartisan voter outreach coordinators.

Partnership with Local Election Officials: Robust collaboration between universities and county election administrators helps address student-specific challenges like residency verification, first-time voter guidance, and provisional ballot reduction.

Curriculum Integration: Civic learning programs that incorporate election cycles into coursework create lasting engagement beyond temporary schedule adjustments.

Election Day 2025 Frequently Asked Questions

Making Your Voice Heard

While most colleges and universities will maintain regular class schedules on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, your right to vote remains protected through various mechanisms—early voting, absentee ballots, faculty accommodations, and campus resources.

The landscape of Election Day policies continues evolving, driven by sustained student advocacy and institutional recognition that civic participation is central to higher education’s mission.

Whether your campus closes, maintains classes, or falls somewhere in between, planning ahead ensures you can exercise your civic duty without academic penalty.

Local elections determine the officials who govern your immediate environment—from campus safety policies to housing regulations to public health resources. Your vote in these races matters.

Check your campus calendar today, register to vote, and make your plan for Tuesday, November 4, 2025.