[Written for Replicon blog]
Have to work on election day? Most states have laws in place to ensure employees get enough time off on the first Tuesday of November to vote in the US general election. Find yours below:
Election time-off statutes by state (alphabetical):
Alabama
If you’re qualified and registered to vote, you can take time off from work to vote in any election, unless your work hours start at least two hours after the polls open or end at least one hour before the polls close. Your employer can determine what hours are available for you to vote.
Alaska
If you don’t have enough time to vote before or after work (meaning you don’t have two hours between the opening of the polls and the beginning of your regular work hours, or two hours between the closing of the polls and then end of your regular work hours), then you can take as much paid time off as you need to vote.
Arizona
You need to apply to take leave to vote, and you have to have less than three hours between when the polls open and when your regular work hours begin, or between when the polls close and when your regular work hours end. If you meet both qualifications, then you can take paid leave from work at either the beginning or end of your shift. If your employer refuses to give you this time off, then he or she is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
Arkansas
Your employer has to make a schedule that ensures that every employee has the chance to vote on Election Day. If your employer fails to comply than he or she will incur a small fine (no less than $25 but no more than $250).
California
If you’re eligible to vote, you can take time off at the beginning or end of your shift on Election Day, and up to two hours of that time off will be paid. Your employer is required to post a notice of this voting provision in a conspicuous place in your office at least 10 days before every statewide election.
Colorado
You can take up to two hours off work to vote at the beginning or end of your workday, if you give prior notice to your employer. If you start work three or more hours after the polls open, or end work three or more hours before the polls close, then this paid leave doesn’t apply to you.
Connecticut
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
District of Columbia
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Delaware
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Florida
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Georgia
If you give your employer prior notice, then you can take two hours off to vote in any election. If you start work at least two hours after the polls open, or end work at least two hours before the polls close, then you aren’t eligible to take time off to vote.
Hawaii
If you’re eligible to vote, then you’re entitled to two hours off work to vote (excluding lunch breaks and rest periods). If you happen to have a period of two consecutive hours between the opening and closing of the polls where you aren’t required to be at work, then you aren’t entitled to time off. You can get your time paid for by providing your employer with proof of voting.
Idaho
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Illinois
If you give your employer prior notice, then you’re entitled to two hours off work, unless you start work two or more hours after the polls open, or end work two or more hours before the polls close. A 2005 amendment to Illinois’s statute affirms that all time off for voting must be paid.
Indiana
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Iowa
If you’re eligible to vote, you’re allowed as much time off as necessary to give you three consecutive hours to vote. You must request this time off in writing, and this time off will be paid. If you already have a period of three or more consecutive hours off-duty in between the opening and closing of the polls, then you aren’t allowed additional time off.
Kansas
If you’re eligible and registered to vote, then you can leave work for up to two paid hours to do so. But, if the polls are open before or after your work shift, then you can only take such time off that, when added to the amount of time before or after work that the polls are open, doesn’t exceed two hours.
Kentucky
You can take up to four hours off to vote, but it isn’t paid and your employer can specify which hours you take off.
Louisiana
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Maine
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Maryland
If you don’t already have two or more consecutive hours of off-duty time when the polls are open, then you can take two hours paid time off work to vote. You also need to provide your employer with proof that you voted.
Massachusetts
If you work for a manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, then you don’t have to work during the first two hours after the polls open, provided you apply for a leave of absence during this period.
Michigan
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Minnesota
You can take off as much time as you need to vote in any election, and your time off will be paid. If your employer doesn’t allow for this, then he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor and can be prosecuted by a county attorney.
Mississippi
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Missouri
If you give your employer prior notice, then you get three paid hours to vote. This only applies to you if you don’t already have three consecutive hours off-duty during the time the polls are open.
Montana
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Nebraska
If you give your employer prior notice, then you can take up to two paid hours to vote, and you’re allowed to decide when these hours will be. If you already have two consecutive off-duty hours when the polls are open, then this does not apply to you.
Nevada
If it’s impractical for you to vote before or after work, then you’re entitled to one to three paid hours, depending on the distance between your work and your polling station. You have to give your employer prior notice, and your employer can determine when you can leave.
New Hampshire
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote, but if you must be physically present at work or in transit to and from work during all polling hours, then you can apply to vote by absentee ballot.
New Jersey
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
New Mexico
If your workday begins within two hours of the polls opening and ends less than three hours before the polls close, then you’re entitled to up to two hours paid leave to vote in an election. However, your employer can set the time for leave.
New York
If you don’t have four consecutive hours off-duty between the polls opening and closing, or if you don’t have “sufficient” non-working time to vote, then you get up to two hours paid time off to vote. However, you have to request the leave between two and 10 days before election day, and your employer can determine whether the leave will be taken at the beginning or end of your shift.
North Carolina
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
North Dakota
The law encourages employers to set up a program to allow you to take time off to vote if your work schedule doesn’t normally allow for it, but this remains voluntary for employers, and there is no guaranteed right to be absent in North Dakota.
Ohio
Your employer can’t fire or threaten to fire you if you take a reasonable amount of time off to vote. If you’re a salaried employee, then this will be paid time off. If your employer violates this statute, then he or she can be fined $50 to $500.
Oklahoma
If you begin your work day less than three hours after the polls open, or finish your workday less than three hours before the polls close, then you’re entitled to two hours paid time off to vote (or sometimes more, depending on the distance between your work and your polling place). You have to give prior notice to your employer, and you’re allowed to decide when to take the two hours off.
Oregon
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote, as Oregon has a vote-by-mail system.
Pennsylvania
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Puerto Rico
Election day is a legal holiday and most people have the day off work. However, if your employer doesn’t give you the day off, then he or she must establish shifts allowing employees to go to the polls between 8am and 3pm.
Rhode Island
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
South Carolina
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
South Dakota
If you don’t have two consecutive off-duty hours when the polls are open, then you get up to two hours paid time off to vote. Your employer can decide when you get this time off.
Tennessee
If you start work less than three hours after polls open and finish work less than three hours before polls close, then you get up to three hours paid time off to vote. You have to request this leave by noon the day before Election Day, and your employer can decide when you get this time off.
Texas
If you don’t already have two consecutive off-duty hours when the polls are open, then you must be given sufficient paid time off to vote.
Utah
If you don’t have three consecutive off-duty hours when the polls are open, then you get up to two hours paid time off to vote. However, you need to request leave prior to Election Day. Your employer will specify when you get to leave, unless you specifically request to leave at the beginning or end of your shift.
Vermont
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Virginia
There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote.
Washington
Provisions for time off to vote were repealed in 2013 after Washington adopted a vote-by-mail system.
West Virginia
If you don’t have three consecutive off-duty hours when the polls are open, then you get up to three hours paid time off to vote. However, you have to request this in writing at least three days before Election Day.
Wisconsin
If you give your employer prior notice, then you can get up to three hours leave to go vote. However, your employer can chose to deduct pay for time lost, and they can also set the time of your leave to vote.
Wyoming
If you don’t already have three consecutive off-duty hours while the polls are open, then you get one hour of paid time off to vote. Your employer can set the time for leave to vote.