Consumer Alerts
Time-Off From Work To Vote
Attorney General Lockyer reminds employers and workers that California law gives voters the right to take time off work without loss of pay in order to cast their ballot at a statewide election.
State Election Code section 14000 
[PDF 8 kb / 1 pg] allows registered voters to take up to two hours off work without loss of pay in order to cast ballots in the November 7 General Election if:
- Working shift prevents the employee from being able to vote without missing time at work. Only those workers who do not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote are eligible to request and obtain time off in order to vote.
- Two working days notice is given. Workers who know or have reason to believe that they will need to take time off in order to vote on election day must give their employer at least two working days notice prior to November 8 of their request to take time off.
- Time-Off is at beginning or end of work shift. Unless there is an agreement to the contrary, employees may only take time off at the beginning or end of their regular working shift, whichever allows the most free time for voting and the least time off from work.
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