As Election Day approaches, employers should know if they are required to provide employees time off from work to vote. Federal law does not require an employer to provide employees voting leave but several states do require time off to vote.
According to voter resources, thirty states and the District of Columbia have implemented voter leave laws. The laws differ by state. Some require an employee to provide advance notice of taking leave; some differentiate between in-person and mail-in voting; some limit the number of hours allowed off to vote; and some require voting time off to be paid.
Employers in the following states should consult their state’s law to understand responsibilities with respect to voting leave for the upcoming election.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
