As Election Day approaches, the impact of state voting leave laws on American workers’ paychecks is coming into focus. According to a report from management services firm ADP, 28 states and Washington, D.C. require businesses to give their employees time off during the workday on Election Day to vote. However, seven of these states do not require employers to continue paying their employees while they are out casting their ballots, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
In some states like Oklahoma and Iowa, employees are required to notify their employers in advance if they will need voting leave on Election Day. The notice time required can vary depending on the state. Additionally, some states are not required to provide time off for voting if there is a reasonable amount of time for employees to vote outside of work hours while polls are open.
It is important to note that the states that require employers to continue paying employees while they vote include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C. On the other hand, there are several states with no mandated voting leave statutes, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
According to the Census Bureau, the most common reason Americans reported for not voting in the 2022 midterms was being too busy with conflicting work or school schedules. Millions of Americans have already cast their early votes, with more than 18 million reported as of Tuesday. Voters in 39 states can cast their ballots via mail without providing a reason, while voters in nine states must provide eligible reasons to vote by mail. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire offer no early voting and require an eligible reason to vote by mail.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are currently engaged in a tight race nationally and within swing states. Recent surveys have shown varying results, with both candidates holding leads within the margin of error. As the election draws near, the impact of voting leave laws on American workers and their paychecks remains a topic of interest and importance.
