Election Day Is a Remote School Day in New York City — for the First Time Ever

Tuesday will look different in more than a million New York homes. For the first time in the system's history, New York City Public Schools will be in session remotely for all students on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3 — classes happen, buildings do not open, and students from kindergarten up will participate from home, according to the school system's official calendar and its November message to families.

The reason is standing in the gym. City school buildings are among the city's busiest polling places, and holding classes remotely keeps the buildings free for voters while the school day still counts. Families should plan the way the system's own guidance frames it: arrange supervision for younger children the way you would for any learn-from-home day, and make sure your child can reach their school account and classes before Tuesday morning — the system's family pages carry the account links schools will use.

The rest of the city's Election Day runs on the same split schedule. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. City government offices and city and state courts are closed, and the day is an optional holiday for state employees — but the school system's own front doors stay open: Family Welcome Centers, the parent support hotline and education department administrative offices all operate. One curbside change matters Monday night: there is no trash, recycling or compost collection on Tuesday, so Election Day set-outs wait for the next regular collection.

The calendar after Tuesday returns to normal quickly — and then not: Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11 is a full school closure, and Thanksgiving Recess runs Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27. But the date families need this weekend is Tuesday. Charge the laptop Monday night.