Federal law does not require employers to give employees time off from work to vote, but most states and some local ordinances require employers to do so—especially when an employee’s work hours do not allow sufficient time for an employee to vote during poll hours.

Voting-leave laws vary from state to state, including whether time off must be paid or unpaid for employees who are eligible to receive overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) because they are not exempt under the FLSA. But employees who are exempt from overtime pay under the FLSA (professional, administrative, executive, outside sales, computer software employees) should not have their pay reduced for taking time off to vote, as doing so may jeopardize their exempt status under the FLSA.

State voting-leave laws also vary regarding the amount of time off that must be provided and whether an employer can dictate which hours are taken off. Some states and cities require employers to post information advising employees of their voting-leave rights. And some states and cities require employers to provide time off to employees who serve as election officials or who serve in an elected office.

State laws that require employers to provide employees with time off from work to vote often limit voting leave to employees who do not have sufficient time to vote outside of working hours. States and localities with flexible voting options may reduce or eliminate the need for employees to take time off from work on election days.

In Connecticut, state law does not mandate private employers to provide their employees with time off to vote. Unlike some other states, Connecticut does not have specific voting-leave statutes that require employers to grant leave for the purpose of voting. However, employees are encouraged to vote either before or after their work hours, as polls in Connecticut are typically open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., which should allow most employees sufficient time to vote outside of working hours. Additionally, Connecticut does not have laws that require employers to post information about voting-leave rights or provide time off for employees who serve as election officials or in an elected office. It's important for employers and employees to be aware of the lack of statutory voting leave in Connecticut and to plan accordingly to ensure that employees can exercise their right to vote.