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Legislative bills

Senators Introduce Time Off to Vote Act to Give Workers Time Off to Vote

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the nation celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with 15 of their Senate colleagues, have introduced the Time Off to Vote Act, a legislation that aims to provide employees with paid time off to vote in federal elections. The bill, which is endorsed by over 30 organizations, seeks to address a long-standing issue where eligible voters often cite work schedules as a reason for not participating in the democratic process.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Time Off to Vote Act would require employers to provide at least two consecutive hours of paid leave for employees to vote in federal elections, upon the employee's request.
  • State laws have created a patchwork of leave requirements, with only half of U.S. states mandating varying degrees of workers' paid or unpaid time off to vote.
  • Currently, about 10% of eligible voters cited being unable to take off from work as the reason they did not vote, according to a poll by Ipsos.
  • The Census Bureau's 2022 Congressional Election Voting Report found that 9.9 million Americans cited conflicting schedules as their reason for not voting.
  • The Time Off to Vote Act is endorsed by over 30 organizations, including the AFL-CIO, American Civil Liberties Union, and League of Women Voters of the United States.
  • Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA).
  • Rhode Island, where Senator Whitehouse serves, currently does not have specific time off for voting laws.

Statistics:

  • 10% of eligible voters cited being unable to take off from work as the reason they did not vote, according to a poll by Ipsos.
  • 9.9 million Americans cited conflicting schedules as their reason for not voting (Census Bureau's 2022 Congressional Election Voting Report).
  • About half of U.S. states have state laws to mandate varying degrees of workers' paid or unpaid time off to vote.
  • Over 30 organizations have endorsed the Time Off to Vote Act, including labor unions, civil rights organizations, and advocacy groups.
  • Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA).

Sources:

  • United States Senate news release, "Reed Whitehouse Join Hirono in Introducing Bill to Give Workers Time Off to Vote", August 8, 2023.
  • Whitehouse.senate.gov, "Reed Whitehouse Join Hirono in Introducing Bill to Give Workers Time Off to Vote", August 8, 2023.
  • Ipsos poll cited in the news release.
  • Census Bureau's 2022 Congressional Election Voting Report.

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