Election Day: Time Off From Work

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October 3 is Election Day in Quebec. If you will be working that day, your employer must ensure that you have enough time to vote.

Four consecutive hours

On Monday, October 3, the polls will be open from 9:30 am to 8 pm. If it’s a working day for you, your employer must ensure you have four consecutive hours to vote.

Examples:

  • If you usually work from 8 am to 4 pm, you employer doesn’t have to give you any time off because you’ll have four consecutive hours from 4 pm to 8 pm.
  • If you usually work from 10 am to 6 pm, your employer must give you time off at the beginning, during or at the end of your work day so that you have four consecutive hours off. For example, your employer could allow you to finish work at 4 pm instead of at 6 pm.

Your employer can’t deduct anything from your paycheck and can’t oblige you to use your lunch break as part of the four hours.

If you work from home on October 3, you have the same rights as if you worked at your employer’s location that day.

To learn more about voting (where to vote, proof of identity, etc.) visit the website electionsquebec.qc.ca.