Election Time is Coming

With election time coming up, we would like to remind employees and supervisors how to handle requests for time away from work to vote.

The full NAU policy can be found in the NAU Personnel Policy Manual at hr.nau.edu/sites/default/files/files/policy_manual.pdf, within the Administrative Leave policy (#4.08), but here are a few basic guidelines:

An employee who has fewer than three hours from the time the polls open to the start of their standard shift, or fewer than three hours from the end of their standard shift until the polls close may, with advance approval from their supervisor, take up to one hour of paid time off to vote.

Since the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day, this mostly impacts employees who start before 9 a.m. AND leave after 4 p.m.

Examples:

• An employee who needs the extra time to vote because they work an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule could (with advance approval from their supervisor) receive up to one hour of time off with pay in order to vote before or after their normal shift.
• An employee who works 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. would not be eligible for paid time off since they would have three hours after their shift before the polls close.

Time off taken for voting should be documented by non-exempt staff on a time sheet and listed as “voting” in one of the unused rows.

If you have more questions, please contact Human Resources at 928-523-2223.

Early mail-in Ballots may be requested up to 11 days before the election through the Coconino County Recorder’s Office http://www.coconino.az.gov/elections.aspx?id=345. Other important election information is also posted at this site.