Here are the states where employers must give you time off to vote

 

People wait in line to cast their ballots during early voting at a polling station in Black Mountain, North Carolina, on October 18, 2024

Choosing when to vote is usually about finding that one block of time between your responsibilities at home and at work.

But, in many states, your calculation might also include the fact that, by law, your employer must allow you some time off during the workday to vote, albeit with certain restrictions. (And if you could use free child care to enable you to get out to vote, there may be some options available to you where you live. More on that below.)

Here’s what you need to know:

Which states have voting leave laws?

There is currently no federal law requiring organizations to give their employees time off to vote during working hours.

However, 28 states and the District of Columbia do have such laws. And a 29th state, North Dakota, has a law simply encouraging, but not requiring, employers to provide time off.

The states requiring voting leave be granted are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.