--- title: "#CostaRica 🇨🇷 #BDS_Informs: Voting Leave: Employer Obligations for Election Day" description: Election Day image: https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/hubfs/costa-rica-elections-concept-wooden-blocks-country-flag-3d-illustration.jpg --- [![BDS blanco ingles](https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BDS%20blanco%20ingles.png?width=100&height=50&name=BDS%20blanco%20ingles.png "BDS blanco ingles")](https://www.bdsasesores.com) - [Team](https://www.bdsasesores.com/en/team/) - [Services](https://www.bdsasesores.com/en/services/) - Blog - [Labor Law](https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/en-us/blog) - [Corporate Law](https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/apriori-blog?hsLang=en-us) - [Store](https://www.bdsasesores.com/en/tienda/) - [Contact](https://www.bdsasesores.com/en/contact/) - English - [English](https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/en-us/blog) - [Español](https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/blog?hsLang=en-us) ![](https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Theme-Delight%20BDS%20Asesores/images/logo-BDS-blanco-jul25.png?width=200&name=logo-BDS-blanco-jul25.png) ##### Feb 9, 2026, 10:25:01 PM ##### 1 min. read #CostaRica 🇨🇷 #BDS\_Informs: Voting Leave: Employer Obligations for Election Day 2:50 # #CostaRica 🇨🇷 #BDS\_Informs: Voting Leave: Employer Obligations for Election Day In Costa Rica, the **right to vote** constitutes one of the **fundamental pillars of the democratic system** and is expressly protected by the Political Constitution. This right, in addition to being a civic guarantee, has **direct implications in the labor sphere**, where it must be respected and facilitated by employers. From a labor law perspective, the Costa Rican regulatory framework establishes clear rules to ensure that employees are able to exercise their right to vote **without obstacles.** The Labor Code recognizes the **workers’ right to be absent from the workplace** for the time necessary to travel to the polling station and **cast their vote**, a leave that must be granted **with pay**. This obligation applies both to the first round of elections and to any run off election that may take place. **Key Rules During the Electoral Process** During electoral processes, labor regulations establish practical rules that must be followed by both employers and employees: - If election day falls on a working day, employees are entitled to be absent from their workplace for the time necessary to vote, with paid leave. - This right applies to both the first round and to any subsequent runoff election. - Employers may not penalize, dismiss, reduce wages, or impose disciplinary measures as a result of the exercise of the right to vote or their participation in polling stations. - Any form of pressure, influence, or coercion regarding employees’ political preferences is prohibited. - Political-electoral propaganda within the workplace is not permitted during working hours. - The time granted to vote must be used exclusively for that purpose and may not be extended to voting-unrelated activities. Likewise, employers must refrain from issuing messages, directives, or taking actions that could be perceived as a **form of** **political influence** within the work environment. **Employees Duties** Just as employers have obligations, employees must also observe certain duties during the electoral process. **Proper use of the time granted to exercise the right to vote** and respect for political neutrality within the workplace are essential to maintaining harmonious and law-compliant labor relations. From BDS Asesores, we reiterate the importance of complying with these provisions, not only to ensure the proper exercise of the right to vote, but also to strengthen democracy and provide legal certainty in labor relations. ![BDS Asesores](https://publicaciones.bdsasesores.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BDS%20Logo-01.png?width=250&height=113&name=BDS%20Logo-01.png) --- *Would you like to learn more about this and other legal topics? 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