Federal law doesn’t require employers to give employees time off to vote, but most states require employers to allow employees to take time off work to vote and only some require workers to be paid for that time.

In addition to state law protections, you should check your employee handbook for information on time off for voting. Some employers voluntarily provide paid leave to vote.

In New England, only Massachusetts mandates that workers be allowed to take unpaid time off to vote, and only during the first two hours that polls are open for workers in manufacturing, mechanical, and retail industries. Employees must request the time in advance, though no lead time is specified in the law. Here is the text of the law:

Massachusetts laws

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-time-off-to-votehttps://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-time-off-to-vote

MGL c. 149, § 178: Leave of absence from work for voting

Section 178. No owner, superintendent or overseer in any manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment shall employ or permit to be employed therein any person entitled to vote at an election, during the period of two hours after the opening of the polls in the voting precinct, ward or town in which such person is entitled to vote, if he shall make application for leave of absence during such period.

The other New England states (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), do not require employers to allow workers to take time off to vote.

For more information:

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/01/us-states-where-employers-have-to-give-you-paid-time-off-to-vote.html

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/taking-time-off-voting-jury-29708.html