While there are no federal laws requiring companies to give time off from work to vote, a majority of states do have rules designed to ensure employees can make it to the polls on Election Day.
Laws vary by state, but if polls are not open two or three hours outside employees' regular shifts, employers are generally required to provide them with reasonable time off to vote. Lunch and other rest periods may not be included as part of the time off for voting.
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The state laws are designed to ensure employees are not disciplined or retaliated against for taking time off to vote. Many states also require that companies pay employees for time they are absent while voting.
Most states allow employers to specify the time of day employees may take off to vote. Generally, employers may require employees to request time off in advance of Election Day.
The National Federation of Independent Businesses, a Washington-based small-business lobby, has compiled a list of voting laws by state, which is summarized below:
Alabama
If the polls open at least two hours before the employee starts work or close at least one hour after the employee ends work, the employer is not required to offer time off. Otherwise, employees are allowed time off not to exceed one hour.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Alaska
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed sufficient time off to vote.
Paid
Arizona
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed three hours to vote.
Paid
Arkansas
Employers must schedule sufficient time on election days so that employees may vote.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
California
Employees are allowed two hours at the beginning or end of the regular working shift to vote.
Paid
Colorado
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed two hours to vote.
Paid
Connecticut
None
Delaware
None
Florida
None
Georgia
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed two hours to vote.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Hawaii
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed two hours to vote.
Paid, with proof that a vote is cast
Idaho
None
Illinois
Employees are allowed two hours to vote.
Unpaid
Indiana
None
Iowa
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed three hours to vote.
Paid
Kansas
Employees are allowed up to two hours to vote.
Paid
Kentucky
Employees are allowed up to four hours to vote.
Unpaid
Louisiana
None
Maine
None
Maryland
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to two hours to vote.
Paid with proof of voting
Massachusetts
Voters employed in mechanical, manufacturing or mercantile businesses allowed time off during the first two hours after the polls have opened only if an application for absence has been submitted.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Michigan
None
Minnesota
Employees allowed time off during the mornings of election days.
Paid
Mississippi
None
Missouri
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to three hours to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify the time of day the employees may take time off to vote.
Paid
Montana
None
Nebraska
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to two hours to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify the time of day employees may take time off to vote.
Paid
Nevada
If polls are not open a "sufficient" amount of time outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed one to three hours to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. "Sufficient" time depends on the distance between work and the polling site. The employer may specify the time of day employees may take time off to vote.
Paid
New Hampshire
None
New Jersey
None
New Mexico
If the polls open at least two hours before the employee starts work or close at least three hours after the employee ends work, the employer is not required to offer time off. Otherwise, employees are allowed up to two hours. The employer may specify the time of day employees may take time off to vote, but it may not include lunch or rest hours.
Paid
New York
If polls are not open four consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed "sufficient time" to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify whether employees must take the time at the beginning or the end of the shift. Employers must post a conspicuous notice of employee rights at least ten days before Election Day.
Paid up to two hours
North Carolina
None
North Dakota
The law encourages employers to provide time off to vote when an employee's regular work schedule conflicts with the times polls are open.
Policy is voluntary and does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Ohio
The law forbids employers from firing an employee who takes a reasonable amount of time to vote.
Paid for salaried employees
Oklahoma
Every employer must allow its registered voters up to tow hours off to vote on Election Day, during the time when the polls are open.
Paid
Oregon
None
Pennsylvania
None
Rhode Island
None
South Carolina
None
South Dakota
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed to take time off to vote.
Paid
Tennessee
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed time to vote not to exceed three hours if a request for time is made before noon the day before Election Day. The employer may specify when during the shift the employee may take time off to vote.
Paid
Texas
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed reasonable time to vote.
Paid
Utah
If polls are not open three hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to two hours to vote. The employer may specify when during the shift the employee may take time off to vote.
Vermont
None
Virginia
None
Washington
If polls are not open two hours outside the employee's regular shift (not including meal or rest breaks), the employer must arrange employee work time on Election Day so the employee is allowed reasonable time to vote.
Paid
Washington, D.C.
None
West Virginia
Employees are allowed no more than three hours to vote if a written request for time off is made at least three days prior to Election Day.
Paid
Wisconsin
Employees are allowed no more than three hours to vote if the request for time off is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify when during the shift the employee may take time off to vote.
Unpaid
Wyoming
Employees may take one hour to vote.
Paid
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