Here are the 29 states you can take time off from work to vote

Here are the 29 states you can take time off from work to voteHere are the 29 states you can take time off from work to voteIf youre wondering whether you can come in late or leave work early to cast your vote in the 2018 midterm elections on November 6, the short answer is, it depends on where you work.Currently, there is no federal law that mandates employers provide their employees time off to cast their ballots. But the majority of US states have time-off-to-vote laws, also referred to as voter-leave laws, and have different requirements and exceptions for employers and employees.While some states guarantee paid time off, for example, others do not. And the time guaranteed for employees to vote varies state-by-state as well.Of course, your own employer may offer leave to vote, even if your state does not. In 2016, for example, Patagonia announced that would close all US stores on Election Day in an effort to encourage customers and employees to vote.Click here to enlargeBut, sinc e not everyones employer is so generous, youd be well-advised to learn about the specific voter leave provisions in your state.AlabamaTime off requiredOne hourPaid or unpaidUnpaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or one hour after work to vote. Employee must provide reasonable notice before taking time off. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.AlaskaTime off requiredAs long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote.ArizonaTime off requiredThree hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.ArkansasTime off requiredAs long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaidUnpaidNotes and exceptions Employer must schedule work hours on Election Day so that employees have enough time to vote.CaliforniaTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has sufficient time outside of working hours to vote. Time off for voting should be only at the beginning or end of the regular working shift, whichever allows the most free time for voting and the least time off from the regular working shift, unless otherwise mutually agreed. Whenever possible, employee must provide at least two working-days notice before taking time off.ColoradoTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off, but employee may request that the time off is at the beginning or end of a work shift.ConnecticutTime off requiredNoneDelawareTime off requiredNoneDistrict of ColumbiaTime off requiredNoneFloridaTime off requiredNoneGeorgiaTime off requiredTwo hoursPai d or unpaidUnpaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide reasonable notice before taking time off. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.HawaiiTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Time off excludes any lunch break or rest periods. If employer can verify employee took leave and failed to vote, employer may make appropriate deductions from employees salary or wages.IdahoTime off requiredNoneIllinoisTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidUnpaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. These rules apply to general or special election, not primary.IndianaTime off requiredNoneIowaTime off requiredThree hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNot es and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.KansasTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. Time off excludes any regular meal break.KentuckyTime off requiredFour hoursPaid or unpaidUnpaidNotes and exceptions Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. If employee takes leave and fails to vote without a valid reason, employee may be subject to disciplinary action.LouisianaTime off requiredNoneMaineTime off requiredNoneMarylandTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employee must provide proof of voting or attempt to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.MassachusettsTime off requiredFirst two hours after polls openPaid or unpaidUnpaidNotes and exceptions Applies only to workers in manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishments. Employee must apply for a leave of absence for time off.MichiganTime off requiredNoneMinnesotaTime off requiredAs long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaidPaidMississippiTime off requiredAs long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaidNot specifiedMissouriTime off requiredThree hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.MontanaTime off requiredNoneNebraskaTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before or on Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.NevadaTime off requiredOne to three hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Employees who work two miles or fewer from the polling place may take one hour two to 10 miles, two hours mora than 10 miles, three hours. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.New HampshireTime off requiredNoneNotes and exceptions Employee may request an absentee ballot if they must be physically present at work, or in transit to and from work, during the period the polls are open.New JerseyTime off requiredNoneNew MexicoTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or three hours after work to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.New YorkTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least four hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice not more than ten nor less than two working days before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. If employee requires more than two hours to vote, employee may take additional unpaid time to vote.North CarolinaTime off requiredNoneNorth DakotaTime off requiredNoneOhioTime off requiredAs long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaidPaid for salaried employees, unpaid for hourly, commissioned, or piecework employeesOklahomaTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice one day before Election Day. Employee must provide proof of voting. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off. If employee requires more than two hours to vote, employee may take additional sufficient time to vote.OregonTime off requiredNoneNotes and exceptions Oregon is a vote-b y-mail state, with the option of voting in person.PennsylvaniaTime off requiredNoneRhode IslandTime off requiredNoneSouth CarolinaTime off requiredNoneNotes and exceptions Employee may request an absentee ballot if they must be physically present at work, or in transit to and from work, during the period the polls are open.South DakotaTime off requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.TennesseeTime off requiredThree hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice by noon the day before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.TexasTime off requiredAs long as it reasonably takes to votePaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least two hours available before or after work to vote.UtahTime o ff requiredTwo hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off, but employee may request that the time off is at the beginning or end of a work shift.VermontTime off requiredNoneVirginiaTime off requiredNoneWashingtonTime off requiredNoneNotes and exceptions Washington is a vote-by-mail state.West VirginiaTime off requiredThree hoursPaid or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Employee must provide notice at least three days before Election Day. In certain industries, employer may specify the hours employee can take off.WisconsinTime off requiredThree hoursPaid or unpaidUnpaidNotes and exceptions Employee must provide notice before Election Day. Employer may specify the hours employee can take off.WyomingTime off requiredOne hourPai d or unpaidPaidNotes and exceptions Unless employee has at least three hours available before or after work to vote. Time off excludes any meal break.This is an updated version of a previous post.This article first appeared on Business Insider.