By: Alisha Sedor
Election Day is typically on a Tuesday, so how can you make sure to do your civic duty when you also have to go to work? Hopefully this quick guide will help!
When is Election Day?
This year it’s on Tuesday, November 6.
Can I take time off to go vote?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a federal law that guarantees time off to vote. However, the majority of states have voter-leave laws of some kind. For example, in New York employers are required to provide employees with 2 paid hours off to vote unless the employees have at least 4 hours off work while the polls are open. The employee has to give at least 2 days notice, and they can take additional unpaid time if they need it. Check on the specifics of your stay as length of time, whether it’s paid, and notice requirements vary state to state.
These states have some sort of voter-leave law:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Many employers also have voter-leave policies, even in states that don’t, so best practice is to check with your supervisor.
What if I know I can’t make it to the polls on November 6?
You can send in an absentee ballot! Find out how to do so in your state here.
When are polls open?
Can I wear my I voted sticker to work?
Yup! You should be good to go. Get in those bragging rights and encourage those around you to engage in their civic duty by displaying that sticker proudly.
Can I talk about politics at work?
Short answer: It’s complicated and it depends on your workplace. Federal law does protect some political speech, specifically your right to discuss labor law in the workplace. However, there are no protections against being discriminated against because your your political beliefs in the workplace. Whether you should is also very dependent on you and where you work. Again, best practice here is to talk to your supervisor about your specific workplace rules and norms.
How do I know if I'm registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration at vote.org (or a bunch of other sites!). Make sure to take a peek and register if you’re not already. Lots of states have deadlines before which you have to register to be eligible on Election Day.
Where do I go to vote?
Vote.org has a poll location locator too!
Voting is so important - every election can have sweeping implications on our lives, everything from taxes to human rights to whether the pothole gets filled on your block. It only takes a few minutes to figure out how and when to vote and make sure it works with your job on Election Day. I hope you’ll all go make your voices heard on Tuesday November 6!