Election Day is quickly approaching, with less than two weeks remaining before the 2024 election. The upcoming election could affect the paychecks of some Americans who take time off work to cast their ballots, depending on the voting leave laws in their respective states. According to management services firm ADP, twenty-eight states and Washington, D.C. require businesses to provide employees with time off during the workday on Election Day to vote. However, seven of those states do not require employers to continue paying employees while they are out voting.
Some states, such as Oklahoma and Iowa, mandate that employees inform their employers in advance if they will need voting leave before Election Day. The notice time varies depending on the specific state. Additionally, many of the states that offer paid time off to vote are not obligated to provide time off for voting if there is a reasonable opportunity for employees to vote outside of work hours while polls are open. This information was reported by Axios.
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 states with no mandated voting leave, such as Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and others.
The Census Bureau found that the most common reason for Americans not voting in 2022 was being too busy with conflicting work or school schedules. However, millions of Americans have already cast their votes through early voting, with over 18 million people reported to have voted as of Tuesday. In addition to early voting, voters in 39 states can vote by mail without providing a reason, while voters in nine states must have eligible reasons to vote by mail. Some states like Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire offer no early voting and require an eligible reason for mail-in voting.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in a tight race both nationally and within swing states. Recent surveys have shown conflicting results, with Harris having an edge in some polls and Trump leading in others. However, many polls have shown either candidate with a lead within the margin of error. With Election Day fast approaching, Americans are urged to make their voices heard by casting their ballots.
