Is Your NYS Voting Leave Poster Displayed?
With the general election taking place today, November 7, employers should ensure their NYS posting obligations are met.
Not less than ten working days before every election, every employer must post conspicuously in the place of work where it can be seen as employees come or go to their place of work, a notice setting forth the provisions of this section. Such notice shall be kept posted until the close of the polls on election day. Be sure to also notify your remote employees of this and other required state and federal posters.
If employees do not have 4 consecutive hours to vote, either from the opening of the polls to the beginning of their working shift, or between the end of their working shift and the closing of the polls, they may take off up to 2 hours, without loss of pay, to allow them time to vote if they are a registered voter.
Some employers choose to leave the voting leave poster up year-round to ensure compliance requirements are met no matter when elections takes place, especially in the case of special elections. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for general elections. The Election Law makes it a misdemeanor to refuse to permit employees who are entitled to vote to attend an election, or to reduce improperly the wages of employees who attend an election.
Click here to view helpful FAQs on NYS voting leave. If you have any technical questions regarding voting leave, please contact the New York State Board of Elections at (518) 474-6220 or visit their website. To print/save a copy of a sample voting leave poster, click here. For questions, please contact the HR Helpline team: Kathy Richmond at (585) 256-4618, Jennifer Suppé at (585) 256-4608, or Cindy Owen at (585) 256-4606.