You are allowed 3 hours to vote on Election Day

According to the Canada Elections Act, everyone who is eligible to vote in a federal election must be allowed three consecutive hours to cast their vote on election day. If your hours of work do not allow for three consecutive hours to vote, your employer must give you time off.

For example, if you live in an electoral district where voting hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and you usually work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., your hours of work will not allow three consecutive hours for voting. To give you three consecutive hours to vote, your employer could allow you to arrive late (at 10:30 a.m.), let you leave early (at 4:30 p.m.), or give you three hours off at some point during the work day.

Employers cannot impose a penalty or deduct pay from an employee who is taking time off to vote if required by the Canada Elections Act. An employee must be paid what he or she would have earned during the time allowed off for voting.

The employer has the right to decide when the time off will be given.

Voting stations will be open from 730 to 1930 in all Alberta ridings on October 19, 2015. Advance voting is open on October 9, 10, 11 and 12. Visit Elections Canada to find our which riding you live in and who is running in your riding.