Update Applicable to:

All employers in the state of Georgia

What happened?

On May 4, 2023, Governor Brian Kemp signed an expansion of the use of voting leave, which takes effect on July 1, 2023 (GA S 129), providing employees time off to advance vote in primaries and elections. 

What are the details?

This new measure amends existing law and, among other things, provides time off for employees to advance vote and revises provisions related to time off for employees to vote on election day.

Georgia employees can take two hours off on election day or one of the days designated for in-person early voting. Likewise, Georgia employees can take two hours off, regardless of whether the polls are open two hours before or after a work shift ends.

Time off for voting is not required to be paid, but employers can choose to do so. Employees must give reasonable notice to their employers of the need for time away from work to vote.

For more information, please see the links below:

Bill Page: Link

Bill: GA S 129

What do employers need to do?

Employers need to review the above bill link to ensure compliance with the new requirements and provide employees with time off to vote in accordance with the law.

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