2018 Minnesota Statutes

204C.04 EMPLOYEES; TIME OFF TO VOTE.

Subdivision 1.Right to be absent.

Every employee who is eligible to vote in an election has the right to be absent from work for the time necessary to appear at the employee's polling place, cast a ballot, and return to work on the day of that election, without penalty or deduction from salary or wages because of the absence. An employer or other person may not directly or indirectly refuse, abridge, or interfere with this right or any other election right of an employee.

Subd. 2.Elections covered.

For purposes of this section, "election" means a regularly scheduled election, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of United States senator or United States representative, an election to fill a vacancy in nomination for a constitutional office, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of state senator or state representative, or a presidential nomination primary under chapter 207A.

Subd. 3.Penalty.

A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and the county attorney shall prosecute the violation.

History:

1981 c 29 art 5 s 4; 1988 c 578 art 1 s 3; 1991 c 245 s 1; 1995 c 20 s 1; 2000 c 260 s 27; 2010 c 201 s 34; 2015 c 70 art 1 s 33; 2016 c 162 s 6