Do You Get Time Off to Vote?

by Seth Michaels, Oct 29, 2008

Time off from work to vote on Election Day varies by state. Below is a partial list of states that mandate time off from work to vote. Know your rights and don’t be afraid to exercise them.

* In Colorado, employees get two paid hours to vote. The employer has the option of designating hours and employees must give one day’s advance notice.

* In Georgia, employees get two paid hours to vote. The employer has the option of designating hours and employees must give “reasonable notice.”

* In Iowa, employees get three paid hours to vote. The employer has the option of designating hours and employees must give one day’s advance notice.

* In Kentucky, employees get four unpaid hours to vote. The employer has the option of designating hours and employees must give one day’s advance notice.

* In Minnesota, employees can take the morning of Election Day to vote. Employees do not need to give advance notice and employers cannot designate hours.

* In Ohio, employees can take time off to vote, but the time off is unpaid.

* In Washington State, employees get two paid hours to vote. The employer has the option of designating hours and employees must give one day’s advance notice.

* In Wisconsin, employees get two paid hours to vote. The employer has the option of designating hours and employees must give one day’s advance notice.

This information was collected by Daily Labor Report (subscription required). 

Unfortunately, 20 states and the District of Columbia have no provisions in law requiring employers to give workers time to vote. That includes critical battleground states like Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Virginia. This is yet another reason to vote early in states where that’s an option.

Make sure you know the law and your rights in your state. The AFL-CIO’s My Vote, My Right campaign has important information about voting and state-by-state fliers about your voting rights that you can download, print and bring with you to your voting location.

Here’s a reality check: Polls don’t vote. News stories don’t vote. Predictions don’t vote. People do—and if we don’t vote, the candidates we support don’t win. It’s as simple as that. After nearly two years of a constant presidential campaign, millions of voters across the country finally have the chance to use their power to decide on the future of the country.

There are only six days to go. Make them count—and make your vote count.

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (0)