Does your boss have to give you time off work to vote? What Missouri & Kansas laws say
Voting is a protected American freedom, and workers are entitled to exercise it even if they’re working on Election Day.
Both Missouri and Kansas have state laws in place requiring employers to give voters time off work to cast their ballots without docking their pay. Employees should notify their bosses in advance that they will need time off to vote on Election Day.
Here’s what Missouri and Kansas laws say about the right to vote during the workday on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
How long do employees get off work to vote in Missouri?
Under Missouri law, all employers must provide employees three consecutive hours off work to go and vote on Election Day — with some conditions.
Employees must request this time off to vote in advance of Election Day, and employers can decide which three hours they get off to go vote.
If there are three consecutive hours while the polls are open when you are not scheduled to be at work, your employer doesn’t have to give you this time off. Since polling places in Missouri open at 6 a.m., employees whose work days start at 9 a.m. or later are not guaranteed this time off.
In cases where voters are entitled to this time off work, their employers are not allowed to discipline them or dock their pay for the time they miss. These hours must be paid as if they were part of a normal workday.
If your employer fails to follow these rules, they could be committing a class four election offense. You can contact the nationwide Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8683 with questions about your voting rights.
How long do employees get off work to vote in Kansas?
Under Kansas law, all employers must give employees two consecutive hours to go vote on Election Day.
If the polls open less than two hours before your shift or close less than two hours after your shift, your employer must give you enough time off work — with pay — that you have a total of two hours to vote.
Kansas law also specifies that your employer cannot count your usual lunch break toward these two hours. Otherwise, they can decide when in your shift these two hours occur.
If there are two consecutive hours on Election Day when the polls are open but you are not required to work, your employer does not have to give you time off for voting.
If your employer fails to follow these rules, they could be committing the class A misdemeanor of obstruction of voting privilege. You can contact the nationwide Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8683 with questions about your voting rights.
Do you have more questions about voting in the 2024 general election? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
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