Here are the 29 states you can take time off from work to vote

Here are the 29 states you can take time off from work to vote Here are the 29 states you can take time off from work to vote If you’re wondering whether you can come in late or leave work early to cast your vote in the 2018 midterm elections on November 6, the short answer is, it depends on where you work.Currently, there is no federal law that mandates employers provide their employees time off to cast their ballots. But the majority of US states have time-off-to-vote laws, also referred to as voter-leave laws, and have different requirements and exceptions for employers and employees.While some states guarantee paid time off, for example, others do not. And the time guaranteed for employees to vote varies state-by-state as well.Of course, your own employer may offer leave to vote, even if your state does not. In 2016, for example, Patagonia announced that would close all US stores on Election Day in an effort to encourage customers and employees to vote.Click here to enlargeBut, since not everyone’s employer is so generous, you’d be well-advised to learn about the specific voter leave provisions in your state.AlabamaTime off required One hourPaid or unpaid UnpaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or one hour after work to vote. Employee must provide “reasonable notice” before taking time off. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.AlaskaTime off required As long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote.ArizonaTime off required Three hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.ArkansasTime off required As long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaid UnpaidNotes and exceptions Employer must schedule work hours on Election Day so that employees have enough time to vote.CaliforniaTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has “sufficient” time outside of working hours to vote. Time off for voting should be only at the beginning or end of the regular working shift, whichever allows the most free time for voting and the least time off from the regular working shift, unless otherwise mutually agreed. Whenever possible, employee must provide at least two working-days’ notice before taking time off.ColoradoTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off, but employee may request that the time off is at the beginning or end of a work shift.ConnecticutTime off required NoneDelawareTime off required NoneDistrict of ColumbiaTime off required NoneFloridaTime off required NoneGeorgiaTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid UnpaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide “reasonable notice” before taking time off. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.HawaiiTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Time off excludes any lunch break or rest periods. If employer can verify employee took leave and failed to vote, employer may make appropriate deductions from employee’s salary or wages.IdahoTime off required NoneIllinoisTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid UnpaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. These rules apply to general or special election, not primary.IndianaTime off required NoneIowaTime off required Three hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.KansasTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. Time off excludes any regular meal break.KentuckyTime off required Four hoursPaid or unpaid UnpaidNotes and exceptions Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. If employee takes leave and fails to vote without a valid reason, employee may be subject to disciplinary action.LouisianaTime off required NoneMaineTime off required NoneMarylandTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employee must provide proof of voting or attempt to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.MassachusettsTime off required First two hours after polls openPaid or unpaid UnpaidNotes and exceptions Applies only to workers in manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishments. Employee must apply for a leave of absence for time off.MichiganTime off required NoneMinnesotaTime off required As long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaid PaidMississippiTime off required As long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaid Not specifiedMissouriTime off required Three hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.MontanaTime off required NoneNebraska Time off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before or on Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.NevadaTime off required One to three hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Employees who work two miles or fewer from the polling place may take one hour; two to 10 miles, two hours; more than 10 miles, three hours. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.New HampshireTime off required NoneNotes and exceptions Employee may request an absentee ballot if they must be physically present at work, or in transit to and from work, during the period the polls are open. New JerseyTime off required NoneNew MexicoTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or three hours after work to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.New YorkTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least four hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice “not more than ten nor less than two working days before” Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. If employee requires more than two hours to vote, employee may take additional unpaid time to vote.North CarolinaTime off required NoneNorth DakotaTime off required NoneOhioTime off required As long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaid Paid for salaried employees, unpaid for hourly, commissioned, or piecework employeesOklahomaTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice one day before Election Day. Employee must provide proof of voting. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. If employee requires more than two hours to vote, employee may take additional “sufficient” time to vote.OregonTime off required NoneNotes and exceptions Oregon is a vote-by-mail state, with the option of voting in person.PennsylvaniaTime off required NoneRhode Island Time off required NoneSouth CarolinaTime off required NoneNotes and exceptions Employee may request an absentee ballot if they must be physically present at work, or in transit to and from work, during the period the polls are open.South DakotaTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.TennesseeTime off required Three hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice by noon the day before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.TexasTime off required As long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote.UtahTime off required Two hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off, but employee may request that the time off is at the beginning or end of a work shift.VermontTime off required NoneVirginiaTime off required NoneWashington Time off required NoneNotes and exceptions Washington is a vote-by-mail state.West VirginiaTime off required Three hoursPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice at least three days before Election Day. In certain industries, employer may specify the hours employee can take off.WisconsinTime off required Three hoursPaid or unpaid UnpaidNotes and exceptions Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.WyomingTime off required One hourPaid or unpaid PaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Time off excludes any meal break.This is an updated version of a previous post.  This article first appeared on Business Insider.