In 19 days · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Time off to vote 2026, state by state
Whether your employer has to give you time to vote on Election Day, how much, and whether it's paid.
28 states and D.C. require employers to let workers take time off to vote, and in 22 of them the time is paid. 22 states have no such law, so it's up to your employer. Most laws apply only when the polls aren't open long enough outside your working hours, and many let your employer set when you go or ask for notice.
| State | Law | Paid | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | No | Up to 1 hour. Alabama lets you take up to 1 hour off work to vote on Election Day if your shift leaves too little time before or after work, as long as you give your employer reasonable notice. The time can be unpaid. (Ala. Code § 17-1-5) |
| Alaska | Yes | Yes | Enough time to vote. If your shift leaves you less than 2 hours in a row to vote while the polls are open, Alaska employers must let you take time off to vote and can't dock your pay for it. (Alaska Stat. § 15.56.100) |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | Up to 3 hours, counting your off-work time. If your Election Day shift leaves you less than 3 hours in a row to vote, Arizona lets you take paid time at the start or end of your shift to make up 3 hours. Ask your employer before Election Day. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-402) |
| Arkansas | Yes | No | Enough time to vote. Arkansas requires employers to schedule work hours on Election Day so every employee has a chance to vote. The law doesn't say the time has to be paid, so ask your employer how it will handle it. (Ark. Code Ann. § 7-1-102) |
| California | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours paid. If you can't vote outside work hours, California lets you take up to 2 hours off with pay at the start or end of your shift. Tell your employer at least 2 working days before Election Day. (Cal. Elec. Code §§ 14000-14001) |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. Colorado workers can take up to 2 hours of paid time off to vote on Election Day or any day vote centers are open, unless they already have 3 free hours in a row while the polls are open that day. Ask your employer ahead of time. (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1-7-102) |
| Connecticut | No | — | Connecticut has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy, and plan to vote before or after work or during early voting. |
| Delaware | No | — | Delaware has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Yes | At least 2 hours. D.C. employers must give you at least 2 hours of paid leave to vote if you ask. Your employer can set when you take it, including during early voting, and can ask you to request it in advance. (D.C. Code § 1-1001.07a) |
| Florida | No | — | Florida has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Georgia | Yes | No | Up to 2 hours. Georgia lets you take up to 2 hours off to vote on Election Day or during advance voting if your shift leaves too little time before or after work. Give your employer reasonable notice; the time can be unpaid. (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-404) |
| Hawaii | No | — | Hawaii has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote, but it votes by mail, so you can fill in and return your ballot outside work hours. |
| Idaho | No | — | Idaho has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. If your Election Day shift starts within 2 hours of the polls opening and ends within 2 hours of them closing, Illinois lets you take up to 2 hours of paid time off to vote. Ask your employer before Election Day. (10 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/17-15) |
| Indiana | No | — | Indiana has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. If you don't have 2 hours in a row off work while Iowa's polls are open, you can take up to 2 hours of paid time off to vote. Ask your employer in writing before Election Day. (Iowa Code § 49.109) |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. Kansas lets you take up to 2 hours of paid time off to vote, counting any time the polls are open before or after your shift. Your employer can choose the time, but not your lunch break. (Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-418) |
| Kentucky | Yes | No | At least 4 hours. Kentucky employers must give you at least 4 hours off to vote on Election Day or on the day you vote early in person with your county clerk. Ask before the day you plan to vote; the time can be unpaid. (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 118.035) |
| Louisiana | No | — | Louisiana has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Maine | No | — | Maine has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. If you don't have 2 hours in a row off work while Maryland's polls are open, your employer must give you up to 2 hours of paid leave on Election Day. Bring back proof that you voted, on the State Board of Elections' form. (Md. Code, Elec. Law § 10-315) |
| Massachusetts | Yes | No | First 2 hours after the polls open. Massachusetts gives time off to vote only to people who work in manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile (retail) businesses: they can take the first 2 hours after the polls open if they apply for leave. The time can be unpaid. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 178) |
| Michigan | No | — | Michigan has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes | Time needed to vote. Minnesota lets you leave work with pay for as long as it takes to vote, on Election Day or when you vote early in person. Your employer can't penalize you for it. (Minn. Stat. § 204C.04) |
| Mississippi | No | — | Mississippi has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | Up to 3 hours. If you don't have 3 hours in a row off work while Missouri's polls are open, you can take up to 3 hours to vote, paid if you vote. Ask your employer before Election Day. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.639) |
| Montana | No | — | Montana has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | Enough time to make 2 hours in a row. If you don't have 2 hours in a row off work while Nebraska's polls are open, you can take paid time off to make up 2 hours. Ask your employer before or on Election Day. (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-922) |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | 1 to 3 hours, depending on distance. If you can't vote before or after work, Nevada lets you take 1 to 3 hours of paid time off to vote, depending on how far away your polling place is. Ask your employer before the day you want the time; you can use it during early voting or on Election Day. (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.463) |
| New Hampshire | No | — | New Hampshire has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| New Jersey | No | — | New Jersey has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. New Mexico lets you take 2 hours off work to vote on Election Day, unless your workday starts more than 2 hours after the polls open or ends more than 3 hours before they close. Your employer can set the hours. (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-12-42) |
| New York | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. If you don't have 4 hours in a row to vote outside your shift, New York lets you take up to 2 hours of paid time off at the start or end of your shift. Tell your employer 2 to 10 working days before Election Day. (N.Y. Elec. Law § 3-110) |
| North Carolina | No | — | North Carolina has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| North Dakota | No | — | North Dakota has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote; state law only encourages employers to allow it. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. (N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-01-02.1) |
| Ohio | Yes | No | A reasonable amount of time. Ohio employers can't fire or threaten you for taking a reasonable amount of time off to vote. The time doesn't have to be paid, except that salaried employees can't have their pay withheld. (Ohio Rev. Code § 3599.06) |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes | 2 hours (more if you work far from your polling place). Oklahoma employers must give you 2 hours to vote on Election Day or during early voting, unless you have 3 free hours before or after work. Ask at least 3 days ahead and keep proof that you voted so you're paid. (Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 7-101) |
| Oregon | No | — | Oregon has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote, but it votes by mail, so you can fill in and return your ballot outside work hours. |
| Pennsylvania | No | — | Pennsylvania has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Rhode Island | No | — | Rhode Island has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| South Carolina | No | — | South Carolina has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. If you don't have 2 hours in a row off work while South Dakota's polls are open, you can take 2 hours of paid time off to vote. Your employer can choose the hours. (S.D. Codified Laws § 12-3-5) |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | Up to 3 hours. Tennessee lets you take up to 3 hours of paid time off to vote on Election Day if your shift leaves less than 3 hours outside work while the polls are open. Ask your employer before noon the day before. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-1-106) |
| Texas | Yes | Yes | Enough time to vote. Texas employers can't refuse to let you leave work to vote, or dock your pay for it, on Election Day or during early voting, unless the polls are open for 2 hours in a row outside your working hours. (Tex. Elec. Code § 276.004) |
| Utah | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 hours. If you don't have 3 hours off work while Utah's polls are open, you can take up to 2 hours of paid time off to vote. Ask before Election Day; you can ask for the start or end of your shift. (Utah Code § 20A-3a-105) |
| Vermont | No | — | Vermont has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote. Check your employer's policy and plan to vote before or after work. |
| Virginia | No | — | Virginia has no law requiring private employers to give you time off to vote. Election Day is a state holiday for state government, but private employers don't have to observe it. |
| Washington | No | — | Washington has no law requiring employers to give you time off to vote, but it votes by mail, so you can fill in and return your ballot outside work hours. |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | Up to 3 hours. West Virginia lets you take up to 3 hours of paid time off to vote if you ask your employer in writing at least 3 days before Election Day. If you have 3 free hours while the polls are open and don't vote then, your pay can be docked. (W. Va. Code § 3-1-42) |
| Wisconsin | Yes | No | Up to 3 hours in a row. Wisconsin employers must give you up to 3 hours in a row to vote on Election Day if you tell them before Election Day. The time can be unpaid, but you can't be disciplined for taking it. (Wis. Stat. § 6.76) |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes | 1 hour. Wyoming lets you take 1 paid hour off to vote on Election Day, at a time your employer chooses, unless you have 3 free hours in a row while the polls are open. You're paid only if you vote. (Wyo. Stat. § 22-2-111) |
From each state's law, checked October 15, 2026. Employers can give more time than the law requires, and some union contracts and city laws do. Early voting dates · When polls close