Georgia Expands Election Leave to Include Advanced In-Person Voting

What Changed

Georgia enacted Senate Bill 129 (SB 129), which expands the state's existing employee voting leave law to include advanced in-person voting days in addition to election day. Previously, Georgia law only allowed employees to take time off to vote on election day itself.

Under the updated law, employees may take up to two hours off from work on election day or on one of the designated days for in-person early voting, regardless of whether the polls are open two hours before or after the employee's work shift.

Who Is Affected

All Georgia employers and employees. The law applies broadly to all employer-employee relationships in the state.

• Employers are not required to pay employees for voting leave

• Employees must provide reasonable notice to their employer before taking voting leave

Where It Applies

Georgia statewide.

When It Takes Effect

July 1, 2023.

Why It Matters

This is a modest but practical expansion of voting rights in the workplace. By extending leave to early voting days, the law gives employees more flexibility to vote without creating scheduling conflicts on election day itself. For employers, the operational impact is minimal — the leave is unpaid, and employees must provide reasonable notice.

The Humareso Take

This is a straightforward update. If you have a Georgia voting leave policy, add a sentence about early voting. If you do not have one, now is a good time to create it. The practical impact on operations is minimal since the leave is only two hours and unpaid, but compliance is easy and demonstrates good citizenship.

Recommended Action Steps

1. Update your employee handbook to reflect that voting leave applies to both election day and advanced in-person voting days.

2. Notify employees of their right to take up to two hours of unpaid leave to vote during early voting or on election day.

3. Contact your Humareso representative if you need help updating your Georgia voting leave policy.