Vote. (Includes information about allowable time off)

 

October 31, 2024

 

If you've ever waited in line for concert tickets, or for the after-Thanksgiving Christmas sales, or anything else, don't be deterred from voting just because the lines will be long.

 

Wear your best weatherproof gear, grab a camp chair and a book (or phone), and settle in.

 

Here are some guidelines about what employers are required to allow in terms of time off for voting and, in some states, paid time. The information comes from the site Fisher Phillips, but you can find your own sources.

https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/news-insights/do-your-employees-get-time-off-to-vote-a-state-by-state-guide-for-employers.html

Missouri

• Leave: Eligible employees are entitled to take up to three hours of voting leave if they don’t have three consecutive nonwork hours available while the polls are open. You may designate the hours when employees can take such leave.
• Pay: You can’t dock an employee’s pay for taking allowable leave.
• Employee Notice: Employees must request such leave prior to Election Day.
• Employer Notice: You are not required to post a notice about employees’ right to take voting leave.
• Learn More: Click here to review the statute.

Illinois

• Leave: Eligible employees are entitled to two hours of voting leave. You can designate the hours for employees to take such leave, but you must allow a two-hour absence if an employee’s shift starts less than two hours after the polls open and ends less than two hours before the polls close.
• Pay: You can’t dock an employee’s pay for taking entitled voting leave.
• Employee Notice: Employees must apply for such leave prior to Election Day.
• Employer Notice: You are not required to post a notice about employees’ right to take voting leave.

Learn More: Click here to review the statute.