QUESTION: A few employees have asked if they can take time off to vote. Do we need to allow that?
ANSWER: This will depend on whether your state provides protected voting leave. Over half require some kind of time off for voting, and a good number of those states require the time to be paid.
The details vary from state to state, but two hours is the most common allowance, and often the employer can require employees to take it at the beginning or end of their workday. The amount of time employees are allowed often depends on how much time they have before or after their shift while the polls are open.
You can check whether your state requires voting leave and whether it needs to be paid using this chart. For more detailed information, see our laws pages.
Even if your state doesn’t have a voting leave law, consider providing employees with time off to vote in support of the democratic process.
Original content by the Mineral Platform. This information is provided with the understanding that Payroll Partners is not rendering legal, human resources, or other professional advice or service. Professional advice on specific issues should be sought from a lawyer, HR consultant or other professional.
