Secretary of State Alex Padilla reminded voters Friday that California law permits employees to take up to two hours off work without loss of pay if they’re enable to make it to a polling place during non-work hours.
“Even if your work schedule makes it too tough to get to your polling place before or after the work, you have the right as a voter to cast your ballot on Nov. 6,” said Padilla, who is himself running for re-election. “State law gives voters the right to take up to two hours off of work to go vote without a loss of pay.”
This right is specified in California Elections Code section 14000. But the law also requires workers to notify their employers two working days before the election if they need to take time off to vote.
Polling places throughout the state are open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Every California employer is required to post a notice informing employees of their rights at least 10 days before an election. The Secretary of State’s office offers these free, print-ready notices in 10 languages online.
