Blog

Election Day 2020

posted by TrueNorth Employee Benefits on Monday, October 26, 2020

On November 3, 2020, American citizens throughout the country will cast their ballots for the president of the United States - along with other state and local officials. Although the right to vote is vital to our democracy, only 58 percent of eligible voters voted in the 2016 presidential election.  

TrueNorth is not endorsing any specific political candidates or parties, and we will never tell you HOW to vote. We simply want all of you to participate fully in the electoral process.

Here are steps that employers can take to handle requests from employees for time off from work to vote.

Although federal law does not require employers to provide their employees time off to vote, many states have voting leave laws that allow employees to take time off to vote in certain circumstances. Specifics vary by state, but many of these voting leave laws: 

• Require the leave to be paid. Most states have laws requiring employers to provide time off from work to vote. 
• Impose a notice requirement on employees. Some state laws require employees to provide their employers with notice of the leave and employers in New York and California must post a notice regarding voting leave laws. 
• Allow employers to designate the hours during which employees may be absent to vote. In many states, employees who have sufficient time to vote during their non-working hours are not eligible for leave. 

Employers should be aware of the voting leave laws that apply to them and be prepared to comply with any applicable requirements. 

VOTING RESOURCES:

• Voting and Elections in the United States - find answers to common questions about voting in the United States.
• U.S. Election Assistance Commission
• Breakdown of Employee Voting Laws by State​

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This publication has been prepared by TrueNorth Companies, L.C. and is intended for informational purposes only. This publication does not constitute any type of representation or warranty, and does not constitute, and should not be relied upon as, legal advice. © 2020 TrueNorth Companies, L.C. All rights reserved.​