Clocks go back at 2 AM on Sunday, Nov. 1, the morning after Halloween and two days before Election Day. Here's the whole week in one place.

Short answer: Sunday, November 1, at 2 AM. That's when daylight saving time ends and the clock goes back to 1 AM, so you get that hour again. Here's the official word from NIST, the federal government's timekeepers: nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/popular-links/daylight-saving-time-dst

Your phone will handle it on its own. The microwave and the car will not.

The timing is a little funny this year. The clocks change the morning after Halloween and two days before Election Day, so it's a busy week around here. Here's all of it in one place.

Tuesday, October 27: if you're still mailing in an application for a mail-in ballot, this is the last day your county clerk can receive it. Cutting it that close by mail is a gamble, so see Monday below.

Saturday, October 31: Halloween. Trick-or-treat hours are set town by town. These South Jersey towns have posted their 2026 hours so far:

  • Haddon Heights: 3 to 8 PM
  • Mantua: 3 to 8 PM
  • Wenonah: 4 to 8 PM
  • Vineland: 4 to 7 PM, with a rain date of Sunday, November 1
  • Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor and Dennis Township: 5 to 8 PM
  • Ventnor: 6 to 8 PM

We add towns as they post, each with a link to its announcement: southjersey.today/halloween

Sunday, November 1: clocks go back, and it's the last day of early voting. You can vote early in person at any early voting site in your county, no appointment needed. Hours are 10 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday, and 10 AM to 6 PM on Sunday.

Monday, November 2: the last day to pick up a mail-in ballot in person at your county clerk's office. Get there by 3 PM.

Tuesday, November 3: Election Day. Polls are open 6 AM to 8 PM. If you vote by mail, your ballot has to be in a county drop box or handed to your board of elections by 8 PM. Mailing it works too, as long as it's postmarked by Election Day and arrives by November 9.

What's on your ballot, plus drop boxes and where to vote: southjersey.today/election

One more thing about Sunday. Once the clocks go back, it gets dark an hour earlier by the clock. Plan the evening dog walk accordingly.