Dear Colleagues:
The 2024 general election is on Tuesday, November 5. System Human Resource Services would like to remind you of the Illinois law regarding general elections and time off for voting. Please share this with managers, supervisors, and human resources staff in your unit.
The state legislature has not designated this day as a university holiday as it had in some previous years. For this reason, regular work and class schedules will be held on Election Day.
Generally, employees are expected to vote during non-working hours. However, if an employee’s work hours conflict with the polling hours, then the employee may be eligible for time off to vote.
Any employee who is entitled to vote is allowed to be absent from work for a period of two hours between the time of the opening and closing of the polls. Since election polls in Illinois are open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, the vast majority of employees will be able to vote before or after their work hours, and therefore the employing unit can specify voting times that do not conflict with work hours or which reduce the amount of work absence.
Employees whose work hours begin less than two hours after the opening of the polls, AND end less than two hours before the polls close are entitled to a paid absence of up to two hours during their work day to vote. The employing unit may specify the hours to be taken off.
View Voting - General or Special Election for more information on these provisions, including guidance for documentation and reporting.
If you have questions about taking time off to vote, please contact your university or system human resources office.
Jami Painter
Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
System Human Resource Services