Colorado has made it even easier for voters to cast their ballots in elections. Employees whose work schedules would prohibit them from voting have been entitled to two hours of paid leave to vote in an election for several years, as long as the leave was taken on election day. As of June 1, 2026, a new Colorado law greatly expands the timeframe in which voters may take their leave to vote. Voters may now use their state-provided election leave on any day a polling center is open, not just on the election day itself. Employers may still deny voting leave requests if there are three or more consecutive hours between the time of opening and the time of closing of the polls during which the elector is not required to be at work.

Employers whose workforce is on the job during regular voting hours should prepare for requests from employees seeking to exercise their right to vote. Employers retain the ability to designate when the voting leave is taken, except that valid requests by eligible employees who wish to use their voting leave at the beginning or end of a shift must be granted. Employers should proactively review their schedules and plan ahead for voting leave in order to minimize disruption to the company. 

Voting leave is a protected right, and employees who utilize voting leave may not be discharged, penalized, or suffer a reduction in pay because they exercised their statutory rights.