| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Alabama Alabama Act 2006-545 |
Yes. One hour. | If the hours of work of the employee commence at least two hours after the opening of the polls or end at least one hour prior to the closing of the polls. | Law does not specify, so probably unpaid. | Yes; “reasonable notice.” | No. | No enforcement method specified in act. |
| Alaska Alaska Stat. §15.56.100 |
Yes, amount not specified | Not required if employee has two consecutive hours available while polls are open at beginning or end of shift | Paid | No | No | |
| Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-402 |
Yes: worker must get three hours off between work and non-work time. | Not required if employee has three consecutive hours available while polls are open at beginning or end of shift | Paid | Yes: at least one day before the election | No | Employer can decide when hours off are taken. Supervisors face fines of up to $2,500 if they block someone from voting, and the company itself can be fined as much as $20,000. |
| Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. § 7-1-102 |
Yes: employer must schedule work hours so employee has time to vote | Unpaid | No | No | ||
| California Cal. Elec. Code § 14000 |
Yes: up to two hours at beginning or end of shift. | Yes (up to two hours) | Yes, 2 working days before election | No | Selection of beginning or end of shift depends on which gives employee most time to vote and takes least time off work.
The California Elections Code also requires employers to post a notice no less than 10 days before every statewide election explaining employees’ right to time off to vote. The notice must be posted in a conspicuous place at the work site. |
|
| Colorado Colo Rev. Stat. § 1-7-102 |
Yes: up to two hours. | Not required if employee has three non-work hours available while polls are open | Paid, up to two hours. | No | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken, but if employee requests, must allow employee to take time at beginning or end of shift.
Companies who bar a worker from voting could lose their corporate charter. |
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Delaware Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 4709 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. Employee who has accrued vacation time and is not in a “critical need” position may serve as an election officer without reprisal by the employer. | |||||
| Florida Title IX, Ch. 104, § 104.081 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But workers can’t be disciplined or fired based on how they vote. | |||||
| Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-404 |
Yes: as much as necessary, up to two hours | Paid | No | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken. No penalties or jail time if employers don’t follow the law. | |
| Hawaii Haw. Rev. Stat. § 11-95 |
Yes, two consecutive hours. Employer cannot change employee’s regular work schedule. | Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | No | Yes. Employee must show voter’s receipt, or employer can deduct hours off from pay. | Meal or rest breaks excluded from 2-hour calculation. |
| Illinois 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 5/7-42; 5/17-15 |
Yes, two hours. | Unpaid | Yes, one day in advance for general or state election. | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken. Employer must give consent (for primary). | |
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Iowa Iowa Code § 49.109 |
Yes, as much time as will add up to 3 hours, when combined with non-work time | Not required if employee has three consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | Yes, in writing prior to the election | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken. |
| Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann § 25-418 |
Yes, two hours or as much time as will add up to two hours, when combined with non-work time | Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | No | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken, but not during a regular meal break. |
| Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 118.035 |
Yes, “reasonable time,” but not less than four hours | Unpaid | Yes, one day | Employee who takes time off but does not vote is subject to disciplinary action | Employer may decide when hours are taken | |
| Louisiana La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §23:961 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers of 20 or more employees can’t interfere with their employees’ “political activities or affiliations.” | |||||
| Maryland Md. Code 1957 Art. 33, § 10-315 |
Yes, two hours | Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | No | No | |
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, §178 |
Yes, first two hours that polls are open | Unpaid | Employee must apply for leave of absence (no time specified). | No | Applies to workers in manufacturing, mechanical or retail industries. | |
| Minnesota Minn Stat. Ann. § 204C.04 |
May be absent during the morning of election day | Paid | No | No | ||
| Mississippi Miss. Code Ann § 23-15-871 |
No specific laws regarding time off to vote, an employer can’t increase or decrease a worker’s pay based on whom they vote for. | |||||
| Missouri Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.639 |
Yes, three hours | Not required if employee has three consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid, but employee must vote | Yes, “prior to the day of election” | Employee must actually vote to be paid. | Employer may decide when hours are taken. |
| Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-922 |
Yes, as much time as will add up to two hours, when combined with non-work time | Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | Yes, prior to or on election day | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken. |
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann § 293.463 |
If it is not practical to vote before or after work, employee may take time off based on distance from polling place | Not required if sufficient time during non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | Yes, prior to election day | No | Employee who lives less than 2 miles from polling place may take one hour; 2-10 miles, 2 hours; over 10 miles, 3 hours. |
| New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann § 19:34-27 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot influence or intimidate employees to vote for or against a particular candidate. | |||||
| New Mexico N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-12-42 |
Yes, two hours | Not required if employee’s workday begins more than 2 hours after polls open or ends more than 3 hours before polls close. | Paid | No | No | Includes Indian national, tribal and pueblo elections |
| New York N.Y. Elec. Law § 3-110 |
Yes, as much time at beginning or end of shift as will give employee time to vote, when combined with non-work time | Not required if employee has four consecutive non-work hours available at beginning or end of shift while polls are open. | Paid, up to two hours | Yes, not more than 10 or less than 2 working days before the election. | No | Employer may decide hours.
Companies who bar a worker from voting could lose their corporate charter. Conspicuous notice of voting rights must be posted not less than ten working days before every election. |
| North Carolina Ch. 163, SubchapterVIII, Art. 22, § 163-274 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot discharge or threaten workers based on how they vote or don’t vote. | |||||
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-1-02.1 |
Employers encouraged to give employees time off to vote when regular work schedule conflicts with times polls are open | Unpaid | No | No | ||
| Ohio Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.06 |
Yes, “reasonable time” | Paid | No | No | Employer can’t refuse to let employee serve as an election official on Election Day. | |
| Oklahoma Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 7-101 |
Yes, two hours, unless employee lives so far from polling place that more time is needed. | Not required if employee’s workday begins more than 3 hours after polls open or ends more than 3 hours before polls close. | Paid | Orally or in writing one day before the election | Yes | Employer may decide when hours are taken or may change employee’s schedule to give employee non-work time to vote. |
| Pennsylvania 25 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3547 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot threaten or intimidate employees to influence their political opinions or actions. | |||||
| Puerto Rico | Day is an official government holiday | |||||
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-23-6 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot put information in pay envelopes or post information designed to influence employees’ political actions. | |||||
| South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. § 16-17-560 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot discharge a worker because of political opinions or the exercise of political rights and privileges. | |||||
| South Dakota S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-3-5 |
Yes, two consecutive hours | Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | No | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken |
| Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-1-106 |
Yes, reasonable time up to three hours | Not required if employee’s workday begins more than 3 hours after polls open or ends more than 3 hours before polls close. | Paid | Yes, before noon on Election Day | No | |
| Texas Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 276.004 |
Employer may not refuse to allow employee to take time off, but no time limit specified | Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | No | No | |
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Utah Utah Code Ann. § 20A-3-103 |
Yes: two hours at beginning or end of shift. | Not required if employee has at least three non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid | Yes, before Election Day | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken |
| Virginia Va. Code Ann.§ 24.2-700 |
No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employees working and commuting for 11 hours of the 13 hours polls are open may vote by absentee ballot. | |||||
| Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 49.28.120 |
Yes, employer must either arrange work schedule so employee has enough non-work time (excluding meal and rest breaks) to vote, or allow employee to take “reasonable time” off, up to two hours. | Not required if employee has two non-work hours (or enough time to get an absentee ballot) available while polls are open. | Paid | No | No | |
| West Virginia W. Va. Code § 3-1-42 |
Yes, up to three hours | Not required if employee has at least three non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid (if employee votes) | Written request at least three days before election | Employee must actually vote to be paid. | Employers in health, transportation, communication, production and processing facilities may change employee’s schedule so that time off doesn’t impair essential functions, but must allow employee sufficient and convenient time off to vote |
| Wisconsin Wis. Stat. Ann. § 6.76 |
Yes: up to three consecutive hours. | Unpaid | Yes, before Election Day | No | Employer may decide when hours are taken | |
| Time Off Required? | Exceptions? | Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Advance Notice Required? | Proof of Voting Required? | Notes? | |
| Wyoming Wyo. Stat. § 22-2-111 |
Yes: one hour, other than a meal break | Not required if employee has at least three consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | Paid (if employee votes) | No | Employee must actually vote to be paid. |