Time off to Vote
October 13, 2020
The 2020 elections are right around the corner. Regardless of your political views, questions frequently come up regarding if employers are required to provide employees with time off in order to vote. The following table provides a summary for some of our local states.
| State | Delaware | Pennsylvania | Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statute | Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 1479 | 25 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3547 | Md. Code 1957 Art. 33 § 10-315 |
| Time Off Required? | No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. Employee who has accrued vacation time and is not in a "critical need" position may serve as an election officer without reprisal by the employer. | Yes; 2 hours | |
| Exceptions? | No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot threaten or intimidate employees to influence their political opinions or actions. | Not required if employee has 2 consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open. | |
| Time Off Paid or Unpaid? | Paid | ||
| Advance Notice Required? | Yes | ||
| Proof of Voting Required? | Yes; also includes attempting to vote. Must use state board of elections form. |
To view the full statutes, click the links below:
