Election Day 2026 | Employee Voting Time Off Guidelines

Human Resources, SVPFA Aharon Grama

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. As we approach Election Day, we want to remind employees of the guidelines for requesting paid time off to vote. Under New York State Election Law, eligible employees who do not have sufficient time outside their scheduled working hours to vote may receive up to two hours of paid time off.

Who is eligible?

This guidance applies to employees for whom Election Day is not a paid legal holiday, including Executive Compensation Plan (ECP) employees, Higher Education Officers (HEOs), College Laboratory Technicians (CLTs), Research Assistants/Associates, Librarians, and applicable Classified Service employees. Employees are eligible for paid voting leave if they do not have four consecutive hours available to vote either:

  • Between the opening of the polls and the start of their work shift; or
  • Between the end of their work shift and the closing of the polls.

What should employees do if they need time off to vote?

If you believe you are eligible and need time off to vote, please:

  1. Notify your supervisor in advance. Employees must provide notice at least two working days, but no more than ten working days, before Election Day.
  2. Coordinate your schedule. Voting leave may be taken at the beginning or end of your work shift, as designated by your supervisor, unless another arrangement is mutually agreed upon.
  3. Record your time. Indicate the hours used for voting leave on your applicable timesheet.

Supervisors should work with eligible employees to coordinate voting leave while maintaining departmental operations. Please note that this guidance applies to Election Day only. Paid voting leave is not available for early voting under the College’s guidelines.

Additional Voting Resources

If you have questions about eligibility or requesting voting leave, please contact Human Resource Services at HRS@brooklyn.cuny.edu