The general election is coming up Nov. 5, and Indiana University encourages all faculty and staff to exercise their right to vote.

Indiana offers multiple ways to vote, so whether casting a ballot early or on Election Day, faculty and staff should find their polling station, know their voting rights and take advantage of IU’s policy that allows time off to vote if needed.

If early voting isn’t an option for you, voting polls in each precinct across the state are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. Staff employees whose work schedules prevent them from voting between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. may be allowed up to two hours off with pay to vote.

Examples:

• A staff employee with a work schedule of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. has between 6 and 8 a.m. to vote before reporting for work. Therefore, this staff employee would not receive any time off with pay to vote.
• A staff employee with a work schedule of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. has only 1.5 hours to vote either before or after work. Therefore, this staff employee would receive, if needed, one half hour of time off with pay to vote.

This time off does not have to be made up or charged to vacation time or any other previously earned time off for staff employees.

If more than two hours are needed on Election Day, supervisors are encouraged to allow employees to use flex time or time-off accruals.

This time off does not apply to early voting. Employees participating in early voting are to use flex time or time-off accruals.

HR policy HR-05-130 contains full details on time off for voting and a printable notice is also available. For related questions, contact askHR at askhr@iu.edu.