As in previous years, this issuance serves to remind and encourage all District government employees to exercise their right to vote during the upcoming primary and general elections. This issuance explains the administrative leave policy for voting.

Each agency head shall take the necessary steps to ensure that employees within the agency are informed of the policy on voting, as specified in this issuance.

Agencies must grant an employee at least 2 hours of paid administrative leave to vote in any election run by the jurisdiction in which they are eligible to vote. Employees must make such requests for voting leave at least 1 day prior to the date of the election.

When 2 hours of administrative leave are not sufficient to enable an employee to vote, an agency may authorize up to 2 additional hours of paid administrative leave, depending on the specific circumstances.

Employees must coordinate with their respective supervisors regarding any anticipated use of administrative leave for voting and shall request leave for voting in accordance with their agency’s leave policies. Agencies reserve the right to specify the hours during which an employee may take leave to vote, such as requiring an employee take leave during a period designated for early voting instead of on the day of the election, or requiring the employee to take their leave at the beginning or end of their tour of duty.

The following table provides a calendar of polling hours for the 2024 primaries and general elections in the District of Columbia and in neighboring jurisdictions:

For detailed information on the upcoming elections, District government employees may visit the following websites:

• District of Columbia: https://www.dcboe.org/
• Maryland: http://www.elections.state.md.us/ 
• Virginia: https://www.elections.virginia.gov

1. Subsections 1266.14 and 1266.15 of Chapter 12, Hours or Work, Legal Holidays and Leave, of Subtitle B of Title 6 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations.