Voting Time Off

Purpose

California Elections Code Section 14000 entitles County employees to sufficient time off to vote in any statewide election, if the employee's work schedule (as opposed to the employee's personal commitments) will prevent the employee from voting on their own time.

At least ten (10) days before any statewide election, the County must conspicuously post a notice at the workplace (or, if impracticable, elsewhere, where employees can see it as they come or go to the work site).​

Policy

Eligibility

All County employees are eligible.

Entitlement

The time necessary to vote, up to two paid hours, taken either at the beginning or end of an employee's regular working shift, whichever allows the most free time for voting and the least time off from the work shift, unless the Department Director or designee and the employee mutually agree otherwise.

Use of Balances

If an employee has insufficient time outside working hours to vote at a statewide election, the County is required to pay the employee for the first two hours of time off to vote, but not any time thereafter. If more than two hours is required, the employee is required to use accruals for any additional time off. Sick leave accruals may not be used.

Request Procedure

If an employee on the third working day prior to election day knows, or has reason to believe, that they will need time off to vote on election day, the employee must give at least two working days' notice of the need for time off, in accordance with department procedures. If an employee does not give advance notice, the leave time to vote will be unpaid.

The employee may be required to provide reasonable documentation for voting time.