Midterm Elections: Supporting Employees’ Right to Vote

Many employees will be eligible to take an important part of the democratic process Tuesday by casting their vote in the midterm elections but will not have time outside of work to exercise this right. Consequently, some businesses are going the extra mile to allow their employees to get to the polls.

There is no federal mandate governing employee voting leave. However, many states have enacted laws to allow workers time during the work day to vote. State laws may require employers to give notice about employee voting rights and provide paid or unpaid leave to vote.  However, even in states that do not have voting leave laws, companies who wish to foster a good employee culture should allow employees two hours of paid time off to vote if work hours don’t allow enough time for employees to vote outside the work day.

Supporting Employees to Participate in Midterm Elections

The Pew Research Center indicates that voter turnout is historically lower for midterm elections. The executive vice president of MomsRising Donna Norton says that these voter turnout rates are the direct result of Americans simply not having time to get to the polls.

“Here in the United States, too many people don’t vote because they don’t have time due to jobs, child care and other responsibilities,” said Norton. “Getting to the polls can be especially challenging for people in rural communities [or] single-parent households, and those who are juggling multiple jobs.”

“Businesses can help solve this problem by making sure that all employees have paid time off to vote,” she continued.

According to The Washington Post, some employers are stepping up to provide solutions for their workers by making Election Day a corporate holiday, allotting a few hours of paid leave for employees to vote and providing information about early and absentee voting.

Creating an Employee Leave Policy for Voting

Dorsey & Whitney attorney Marilyn Clark suggests that employers at least implement a policy to inform employees of their voting rights under applicable laws.

However, companies should keep in mind that “the general theme across the U.S. with respect to voting laws is that employees will be given time off to vote if there is insufficient time between the time the polls open and close within the state and the time employees start and finish work,” Nobile said. “Typically, two to three consecutive nonworking hours between the opening and closing of the polls is deemed sufficient.”

Furthermore, employers are encouraged to recognize the fundamental value in fostering a company culture that values workers above and beyond legal requirements.