Categories: Trending now

Election Day: What states guarantee a break from work to vote?

2024-11-05 04:05:03

On the eve of Election Day, many Americans might be looking at their calendars wondering when they can schedule in their vote. Depending on where you live, work might not be a real conflict of interest.

AD

Despite the day being of national importance, there’s no federal law that requires a company to allow their employees to take time off to cast their ballots. Instead, that power lies in the hands of whatever state a voter lives in. 

As it stands, 28 states and the District of Columbia outline the right for workers to take some time off during the election. 

But there are wrinkles, of course. Six states don’t require bosses to pay workers for taking a short break to vote—they include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin, per CNBC. And the amount of paid time an employee is entitled to differs state by state.

This current cycle has been called one of closest elections in modern history by some, which might make for longer lines come the actual day. Voting sites from Chicago to Long Island, N.Y., warn of lengthy wait times for early voters.

Limited time off and high turnout force some U.S. residents between a rock and a hard place. Registered voters’ main reason for not voting in 2022 was a “too busy, conflicting work or school schedule,” according to Census data.

To avoid Election Day hassles, Americans are increasingly turning to early voting, and almost 75 million have already cast their ballots. But some advocates have called for more amid voter suppression efforts.

“Many other democracies make election day a holiday and they all have higher voter turnout than we do,” wrote fellows from left-leaning think tank Brookings in 2021, adding that voter suppression has risen in the form of closed polling sites in neighborhoods with more minority residents. That spells long lines and “inconvenience with a cost, especially for those paid hourly wages,” they added.

Indeed, a lack of guaranteed federal leave impacts certain workers disproportionately, as those with children (especially women) are less likely to vote than those without, according to Molly Weston Williamson for the liberal think tank Center for American Progress.

“Workers of color, particularly women of color, are more likely to face unpredictable and challenging schedules, potentially compounding the growing racial voter turnout gap,” she wrote in a post last month.

States that require managers to give employees time off to vote include: 

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Upcoming event:
Join business’s brightest minds and boldest leaders at the Fortune Global Forum, convening November 11 and 12 in New York City. Thought-provoking sessions and off-the-record discussions feature Fortune 500 CEOs, former Cabinet members and global Ambassadors, and 7x world champion Tom Brady–among many others.

See the full agenda here, or request your invitation.

News Today

Recent Posts

Voters express deep concern about America’s democracy and economy

2024-11-06 09:00:02 The state of democracy and the economy in the United States were the…

8 mins ago

Exit polls 2024: Fear for American democracy top issue for Pennsylvania voters, nationwide

2024-11-06 08:50:02 Broad economic discontent, sharp divisions about the nation's future and polarized views of…

18 mins ago

How to watch MSNBC live online on election night 2024

2024-11-06 08:40:03 Political animals of all strips looking for live U.S. election coverage might want…

28 mins ago

Why is RFK Jr. still on the ballot in Illinois? – NBC Chicago

2024-11-06 08:30:02 Scores of Illinois residents made their way to the polls Tuesday for the…

38 mins ago

Fans Complain About Poor Food And Beverage Arrangements At Dil-Luminati Concert In Delhi

After all the wait and excitement, Diljit Dosanjh fans in Delhi attended the much-awaited Dil-Luminati…

43 mins ago

Autonomous truck company Aurora delays hauling freight without human drivers until April

PITTSBURGH -- Autonomous truck company Aurora Innovation says it won't start hauling freight without humans…

48 mins ago