These states require paid time off to vote on Election Day

Topline

The deadline to vote in the 2024 election is approaching and could potentially impact the paychecks of Americans who need to take time out of their workday to cast their ballots, which may or may not be covered by their states' voter leave laws.

Election day is November 5th. (Photo by Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

Star Tribune via Getty Images

Important facts

28 states and Washington, DC require businesses to give employees time off during the workday to vote on Election Day (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), according to management services firm ADP.

However, seven of those states do not require employers to continue paying employees while they vote: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio and Wisconsin.

According to ADP, some states such as Oklahoma and Iowa require employees to notify their employers that they need voting leave before Election Day (November 5), although employer notice periods may vary.

According to Axios, many of the states that provide paid time off to vote are not required to provide time off to vote if an employee has a reasonable amount of time to vote outside of work hours during the polls.

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Which states allow paid time off to vote?

States that require employers to continue paying their employees while they vote include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. Washington, DC does this too.

Which states have no-vote leave laws?

The states without mandatory voting leave are Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Surprising fact

The Census Bureau found that the most common reason Americans reported not voting in 2022 was being too busy with conflicting work or school schedules (26.5% of registered voters who did not vote in the midterm election ).

Important background

Millions of Americans have already voted early, with the New York Times reporting that about 75 million people had cast their ballots as of Sunday. In addition to early voting, voters in 39 states can cast their ballots by mail without having to provide a reason, while voters in nine states must provide legitimate reasons for voting by mail, according to CBS News, which mentions Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire do not offer early voting and also require a legitimate reason for voting by mail. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in a tough race nationally and within swing states. In four recent national polls, Harris has a single-digit lead over Trump, but in three other polls the presidential candidates are in a dead heat.