In general, you are provided at least three hours during the day to vote.
In locations where polls are not open at least three hours before or after your regularly scheduled hours of work, up to 3 hours of excused absence may be granted to make up the difference.
- For example, if you are scheduled to work from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and your polling place is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., you may request ½ hour of excused absence from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Excused absence for voting may be permitted at either the beginning or end of your daily tour of duty, depending on which requires less excused absence. In this case, since you would need 2 hours in the morning to meet the 3-hour threshold, the lesser of ½ hour of excused absence in the afternoon is appropriate.
An excused absence cannot be granted to participate in electoral activities such as serving as an:
- Election officer
- Precinct inspector
- Clerk
Any time spent during regular duty hours for these activities must be charged to your accrued annual leave, compensatory time, credit hours if on a flexible alternative work schedule, or LWOP.
