12-3-5. Time allowed employees from work to vote--Penalty and pay deduction prohibited--Violation as misdemeanor.

Any person entitled to vote at any election held within this state, including a primary election, shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any service or employment in which he is then engaged or employed for a period of two consecutive hours between the time of opening and the time of closing the polls; provided such person does not have a period of two consecutive hours during the time the polls are open during which he is not required to be present at his work or place of employment. Such voter is not, because of so absenting himself, liable to any penalty, nor may any deduction be made on account of such absence from his usual salary or wages. The employer may specify the hours during which such employee may absent himself as aforesaid.

An employer who refuses an employee the privilege conferred by this section or who subjects an employee to a penalty or reduction of wages because of the exercise of such privilege or who directly or indirectly violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SL 1897, ch 60, § 40; RPolC 1903, § 1924; RC 1919, § 7274; SL 1929, ch 118, § 20; SDC 1939, §§ 16.0202, 16.1211, 16.9922; SL 1945, ch 75; SL 1947, ch 87; SL 1955, ch 54; SL 1955, ch 57, § 1; SL 1968, ch 73, § 1; SL 1982, ch 86.