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HomeElections CodeDiv. 14Ch. 1§ 14000 Voter Time Off Work

§ 14000 Voter Time Off Work

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 14000 Voter Time Off Work

This law lets workers take paid time off to vote if they don’t have enough free time outside work, but only up to two hours and with notice.

Key Takeaways

  • •Workers may take paid time off to vote if they don’t have enough voting time outside work.
  • •Only up to two hours can be taken without loss of pay, and it must be at the start or end of the regular shift.
  • •The employee must give at least two working days’ notice by the third workday before the election.

Example

Jane works a 9 a.m.–5 p.m. shift. The polling place is open from 7 a.m.–7 p.m., and she can’t get to it before work. She asks her boss to leave work at 7 a.m. on election day, taking two hours off at the start of her shift.

Jane can take those two hours off without losing pay, because the law allows up to two paid hours for voting and she gave notice in advance. The time off is taken at the beginning of her shift, which the law says is the preferred way.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14000 Voter Time Off Work

(a) If a voter does not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote at a statewide election, the voter may, without loss of pay, take off enough working time that, when added to the voting time available outside of working hours, will enable the voter to vote. (b) No more than two hours of the time taken off for voting shall be without loss of pay. The time off for voting shall 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. (c) If the employee on the third working day prior to the day of election, knows or has reason to believe that time off will be necessary to be able to vote on election day, the employee shall give the employer at least two working days’ notice that time off for voting is desired, in accordance with this section. (Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

statewide electionwithout loss of paytwo working days’ notice

Related Statutes

  • § 12000 Governor'S Election Proclamation
  • § 14001 Employer Election Notice Posting
  • § 1 Elections Code Title
  • § 10 Secretary Voter Registration Duties
  • § 10.5 Elections Cybersecurity And Misinformation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 14000.
View Official Source