Election day is almost here. That means it’s time to review state laws on allowing employees time off to vote.
The federal government has no law guaranteeing workers time off to go to the polls. But many states do. In most cases, employees are only given time off when they don’t have enough time before or after their shifts.
Also, several states specify that employees need to request time off in advance.
Here are some examples of the varying regulations:
Arizona — Work hours must be scheduled so employees have at least three consecutive hours before or after their shifts to vote.
Alabama — Employees get two hours off if they start work less than two hours after the polls open or leave less than an hour before they close.
New York — If workers don’t have four hours in the morning or evening to vote, they must be given time off. Time taken up to two hours must be paid.
Minnesota — Employees who can vote are allowed to be absent during the morning of the election. The time off must be paid.
Washington — Workers must have two free hours for voting, not including rest or meal breaks.
Wyoming — Employees can take an hour of paid time in between the opening and closing of the polls.
Those are just a few examples. The laws vary widely, so companies should check the laws in their own states, as well as local regulations.
