So maybe you don't work at one of the (at publication time) 313 startups that will be giving employees the day off to vote. That doesn't mean you're completely denied the state-mandated benefit of paid time off to cast your ballot — that is, if you get on the ball and ask for it.

Per California Elections Code Section 14000:

(a) If a voter does not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote at a statewide election, the voter may, without loss of pay, take off enough working time that, when added to the voting time available outside of working hours, will enable the voter to vote.

(b) No more than two hours of the time taken off for voting shall be without loss of pay. The time off for voting shall be only at the beginning or end of the regular working shift, whichever allows the most free time for voting and the least time off from the regular working shift, unless otherwise mutually agreed.

(c) If the employee on the third working day prior to the day of election, knows or has reason to believe that time off will be necessary to be able to vote on election day, the employee shall give the employer at least two working days' notice that time off for voting is desired, in accordance with this section.

You got that? As long as you tell your manager two full business days before November 8 (so, basically, today) that you need time off to vote, you can come in two hours late or leave two hours early without cutting into your PTO or losing your hourly pay.

Of course, you probably knew this already, as section 14001 mandates that "Not less than 10 days before every statewide election, every employer shall keep posted conspicuously at the place of work, if practicable, or elsewhere where it can be seen as employees come or go to their place of work, a notice setting forth the provisions of Section 14000." So that's already posted somewhere in your place of employment, right? Ha ha.

These rules "apply to all public agencies and the employees thereof, as well as to employers and employees in private industry," 14002 says, so your boss can't claim that you can't duck out because your company is small, or technically based in the Caymans, or whatever.

Of course, many of you probably vote absentee, so you don't need time off work to vote. But, you guys, it's two free hours. So unless you've marched around self-righteously proclaiming that you are sooooooo efficient because already mailed in your ballot, those two free hours are yours for the taking. Your secret is safe with me.

Previously: To Encourage Voting, Over 100 Startups Will Give Employees Election Day Off