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AP20:022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2020
CONTACT:
SOS Press Office
(916) 653-6575

California Law Allows Time Off to Vote on Election Day

SACRAMENTO, CA – To help ensure voters can get to the polls on Election Day, March 3, 2020 California law allows workers to take up to two hours off work to vote if they are unable to vote during non-work hours.

“Californians should make a plan now for how they will cast a ballot on Election Day,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “Every registered voter has a right to cast their ballot before the polls close. If you can’t make it to your polling place outside of working hours, you have the right to take time off to vote, without a loss of pay.”

California Elections Code section 14000 allows workers up to two hours off, without a loss of pay, to vote if they do not have enough time to do so during their non-work hours. The law requires workers to notify their employers two working days before the election if they need to take time off to vote.

Polling places are open between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Also, every California employer is required to post, in a visible location, 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 at: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/time-vote-notices/

Californians can also find early voting locations at CAEarlyVoting.sos.ca.gov.

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