Election Date Calculator
Federal vote date and race type by year.
What it does
Federal Election Day never needs a search: the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, every even year. Presidential races divide evenly by four while midterms fill the gaps.
The tool above takes any even year from 1900 to 2100. It returns the exact Tuesday with the race type and ballot shape beside it.
The default 2028 votes Tuesday November 07 2028 for President with all 435 House seats and about a third of the Senate. 2026 votes Tuesday November 03 2026 as a midterm.
The rule follows USA.gov election process pages with FEC schedules matching: November 7 2028 next presidential, November 3 2026 next general. Both print the same Tuesday rule.
How to use
- Enter an even year.
- Read Election Day Tuesday.
- Read presidential or midterm.
- Read who stands for election.
- Register through your state office.
- Check primaries separately.
Formula
- Nov 1
- Anchor weekday computed in UTC.
- +1
- Tuesday after the first Monday.
- % 4
- Zero marks presidential years.
Odd years hold state and local races but no federal House general; special vacancy elections can fall off cycle. States administer polling, registration, and primaries behind the federal date.
Worked example
Example: year 2028
Defaults: year 2028.
- Nov 1 2028 is Wednesday.
- First Monday: Nov 1 + 5 = Nov 6.
- Vote: Nov 6 + 1 = Tue Nov 07 2028.
- 2028 / 4 = 507 whole, presidential.
- Tool shows Tue Nov 07 2028, Presidential.
- 2026 gives Tue Nov 03 2026, Midterm.
Reference table
| Year | Election Day | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tue Nov 03 2026 | Midterm |
| 2028 | Tue Nov 07 2028 | Presidential |
| 2030 | Tue Nov 05 2030 | Midterm |
Limits
- Federal generals only.
- Primaries run their own dates.
- Special elections off cycle.
- States run the polls.
Common mistakes
- Expecting federal races odd years.
- Mixing primary with general dates.
- Reading Nov 1 Tuesday as vote day.
- Skipping registration deadlines.
- Assuming FEC runs polling places.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
Year 2026?
Tue Nov 03 2026, Midterm.
Year 2030?
Tue Nov 05 2030, Midterm.
Year 2027?
No federal general; pick an even year.
Questions
When is Election Day?
Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Nov 2 to 8.
Presidential or midterm?
Years divisible by 4 vote President; other evens are midterms.
What is on midterm ballots?
All 435 House seats with about a third of the Senate.
If Nov 1 is Tuesday?
Vote falls Nov 8, past the first Monday.
Who runs polling?
States and counties; FEC covers campaign finance records.
Primaries included?
No, states set primary dates separately.