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Legislative bills

Time Off to Vote Act Introduced to Standardize Voting Leave During Federal Elections

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. Senators Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Mazie K. Hirono have joined 15 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Time Off to Vote Act, a legislation aimed at standardizing voting leave during federal elections for all fifty states. The bill would require employers to provide at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to employees who request time off to vote. This measure is expected to empower eligible voters, particularly in underrepresented communities, and expand voter participation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Time Off to Vote Act aims to standardize voting leave during federal elections for all 50 states.
  • The legislation would require employers to provide at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to employees who request time off to vote.
  • Currently, about half of U.S. states have state laws to mandate varying degrees of workers paid or unpaid time off to vote.
  • According to a poll by Ipsos, about 10 percent of eligible voters cited being unable to take off from work as the reason they did not vote.
  • 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 40 organizations, including the AFL-CIO, American Civil Liberties Union, and League of Women Voters of the United States.
  • Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA).
  • The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Dick Durbin, Ruben Gallego, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tim Kaine, Jeff Merkley, Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch, and Ron Wyden.

Statistics:

  • 10 percent of eligible voters cited being unable to take off from work as the reason they did not vote (Ipsos poll).
  • 9.9 million Americans cited conflicting schedules as their reason for not voting (Census Bureau's 2022 Congressional Election Voting Report).
  • Half of U.S. states have state laws to mandate varying degrees of workers paid or unpaid time off to vote.

Sources:

  • [Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed]
  • [Ipsos poll]
  • [Census Bureau's 2022 Congressional Election Voting Report]
  • [List of endorsements from over 40 organizations, including AFL-CIO, American Civil Liberties Union, and League of Women Voters of the United States]
  • [Companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA)]

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