Wyoming
Time off to vote: 1 hour, paid, other than meal break, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hour
Alabama
Time off to vote: 1 hour, unpaid, if the employee starts work less than two hours after the polls open and finishes less than one hour before the polls close
√ Employer may specify what hours
√ Employee must notify employer in advance of intention to vote
Alaska
Time off to vote: "Sufficient" time, unless employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
Arizona
Time off to vote: 3 consecutive hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer can decide hours
√ Employees should give advance notice of their plans to leave early or arrive late
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Arkansas
Employers must adjust employees' schedules to allow them time to vote
California
Time off to vote: Up to 2 hours, paid, at beginning or end of shift, unless employee has 2 non-work hours during which the polls are open
√ Two-days' advance notice of voting day plans suggested
Colorado
Time off to vote: At least 2 hours, paid, unless employee is not scheduled to work for at least 3 hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide which hours
√ Advance notice required
Connecticut
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Delaware
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
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Florida
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Georgia
Time off to vote: At least 2 hours, unpaid, unless an employee's workday begins at least 2 hours after polls open or ends 2 hours before polls close
√ Employer may decide hours
√ "Reasonable notice" requested
Hawaii
Time off to vote: 2 consecutive hours, paid, unless employee has 2 non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may require proof of voting
Idaho
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Illinois
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, for general elections and special elections only, provided the employee's workday begins or ends less than 2 hours after or before the polls open or close
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice at least one day in advance
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Indiana
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Iowa
Time off to vote: 3 hours, paid, unless an employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer can specify hours
√ Employee must give notice in writing of their intention to take time off
Kansas
Time off to vote: Up to 2 hours, paid, unless employees have 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours, but not during regular meal break
Kentucky
Time off to vote: At least 4 hours, unpaid, on election day or during early voting
√ Employee must request leave one day in advance
√ Employer may decide what hours
Louisiana
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Maine
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Maryland
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless employee has 2 non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employee may be required to show proof of voting
Massachusetts
Time off to vote: 2 hours, unpaid, required for employees working in manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishments
√ Leave must be requested in advance
Michigan
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Minnesota
Time off to vote: "Sufficient" time off, paid
Mississippi
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Missouri
Time off to vote: 3 hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give advance notice
Montana
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Nebraska
Time off to vote: Up to 2 hours, paid, unless employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice in advance or on election day
Nevada
Time off to vote: Granted only if it is "impractical" for an employee to vote before or after work
√ 1 hour, paid, given to employees 2 miles or less from polling place
√ 2 hours, paid, for 2-10 miles
√ 3 hours, paid, for more than 10 miles
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give advance notice
New Hampshire
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
New Jersey
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
New Mexico
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless an employee has begins work 2 hours after polls open or finishes work 3 or more hours before polls close
√ Employer may decide what hours
New York
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, or as many hours as necessary at beginning or end of shift to total 4 consecutive work and non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give between 2 and 10 days advance notice
North Carolina
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
North Dakota
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote but are encouraged to allow time off if needed
Ohio
Time off to vote: "Reasonable" time, paid
Oklahoma
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give one day advance notice
√ Employer may require proof of voting
Oregon
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Pennsylvania
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Rhode Island
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
South Carolina
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote--employees who cannot vote in person on election day should vote via absentee ballot
South Dakota
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless an employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hours
Tennessee
Time off to vote: Up to 3 hours, unless an employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice by noon on the day before the election
Texas
Time off to vote: Employer must grant time off, unless employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
Utah
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, at beginning or end of shift, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice in advance
Vermont
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote, but employees can use a town-hall meeting law to request unpaid leave
√ Employee must give notice 7 days in advance
Virginia
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Washington
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
West Virginia
Time off to vote: Up to 3 hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers in health, transportation, communication, production and processing facilities may adjust employee schedules instead
√ Employee must give written notice at least 3 days in advance
Wisconsin
Time off to vote: Up to 3 hours, unpaid
√ Employers may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice in advance
Wyoming
Time off to vote: 1 hour, paid, other than meal break, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hour
Alabama
Time off to vote: 1 hour, unpaid, if the employee starts work less than two hours after the polls open and finishes less than one hour before the polls close
√ Employer may specify what hours
√ Employee must notify employer in advance of intention to vote
Alaska
Time off to vote: "Sufficient" time, unless employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
Arizona
Time off to vote: 3 consecutive hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer can decide hours
√ Employees should give advance notice of their plans to leave early or arrive late
Advertisement
Arkansas
Employers must adjust employees' schedules to allow them time to vote
California
Time off to vote: Up to 2 hours, paid, at beginning or end of shift, unless employee has 2 non-work hours during which the polls are open
√ Two-days' advance notice of voting day plans suggested
Colorado
Time off to vote: At least 2 hours, paid, unless employee is not scheduled to work for at least 3 hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide which hours
√ Advance notice required
Connecticut
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Delaware
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Advertisement
Florida
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Georgia
Time off to vote: At least 2 hours, unpaid, unless an employee's workday begins at least 2 hours after polls open or ends 2 hours before polls close
√ Employer may decide hours
√ "Reasonable notice" requested
Hawaii
Time off to vote: 2 consecutive hours, paid, unless employee has 2 non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may require proof of voting
Idaho
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Illinois
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, for general elections and special elections only, provided the employee's workday begins or ends less than 2 hours after or before the polls open or close
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice at least one day in advance
Advertisement
Indiana
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Iowa
Time off to vote: 3 hours, paid, unless an employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer can specify hours
√ Employee must give notice in writing of their intention to take time off
Kansas
Time off to vote: Up to 2 hours, paid, unless employees have 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours, but not during regular meal break
Kentucky
Time off to vote: At least 4 hours, unpaid, on election day or during early voting
√ Employee must request leave one day in advance
√ Employer may decide what hours
Louisiana
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Maine
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Maryland
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless employee has 2 non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employee may be required to show proof of voting
Massachusetts
Time off to vote: 2 hours, unpaid, required for employees working in manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishments
√ Leave must be requested in advance
Michigan
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Minnesota
Time off to vote: "Sufficient" time off, paid
Mississippi
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Missouri
Time off to vote: 3 hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give advance notice
Montana
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Nebraska
Time off to vote: Up to 2 hours, paid, unless employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice in advance or on election day
Nevada
Time off to vote: Granted only if it is "impractical" for an employee to vote before or after work
√ 1 hour, paid, given to employees 2 miles or less from polling place
√ 2 hours, paid, for 2-10 miles
√ 3 hours, paid, for more than 10 miles
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give advance notice
New Hampshire
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
New Jersey
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
New Mexico
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless an employee has begins work 2 hours after polls open or finishes work 3 or more hours before polls close
√ Employer may decide what hours
New York
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, or as many hours as necessary at beginning or end of shift to total 4 consecutive work and non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give between 2 and 10 days advance notice
North Carolina
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
North Dakota
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote but are encouraged to allow time off if needed
Ohio
Time off to vote: "Reasonable" time, paid
Oklahoma
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employer may decide what hours
√ Employee must give one day advance notice
√ Employer may require proof of voting
Oregon
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Pennsylvania
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Rhode Island
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
South Carolina
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote--employees who cannot vote in person on election day should vote via absentee ballot
South Dakota
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, unless an employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hours
Tennessee
Time off to vote: Up to 3 hours, unless an employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice by noon on the day before the election
Texas
Time off to vote: Employer must grant time off, unless employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
Utah
Time off to vote: 2 hours, paid, at beginning or end of shift, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice in advance
Vermont
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote, but employees can use a town-hall meeting law to request unpaid leave
√ Employee must give notice 7 days in advance
Virginia
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
Washington
Employers are not required to give any time off to vote
West Virginia
Time off to vote: Up to 3 hours, paid, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers in health, transportation, communication, production and processing facilities may adjust employee schedules instead
√ Employee must give written notice at least 3 days in advance
Wisconsin
Time off to vote: Up to 3 hours, unpaid
√ Employers may decide what hours
√ Employee must give notice in advance
Wyoming
Time off to vote: 1 hour, paid, other than meal break, unless employee has 3 consecutive non-work hours during which polls are open
√ Employers may decide what hour
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
