The last day to cast your ballot in-person for the 2022 midterm elections is on Tuesday, November 8.
In order to alleviate the stress of having to miss work in order to vote, many states have begun to mandate that employers give their employees time off so they can head to the polls.
At this time there is no federal mandate for time off, however many states have taken the initiative. Currently 22 states and the District of Columbia offer employees paid time off to vote. There are seven states that offer unpaid time off. Ohio doesn't have a specific limit for voting time off, however only salaried employees are able to receive compensation for their time off to vote, as noted in the chart.
There are 20 states that still do not offer any time off accommodations for employees looking to vote early or on Election Day.
Whether or not the time off policies apply to early voting depends on either your employer and your state, so if you are hoping to use your voting time off to cast your ballot early, before November 8, double-check that your employer will still honor your state-mandated time off request.
In April of 2022, the House of Representatives introduced a bill called the Time Off to Vote Act, which would require employers to provide their employees with a minimum of two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections, outside of lunch or break hours. The bill would make it unlawful for employers to discriminate against an employee for taking such leave.
"Voting should not be a luxury that only the well-off can afford," Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat from Pennsylvania and the sponsor of the bill said in a statement. "This bill, which ensures that American workers can cast their ballots without risking their paychecks, is an important addition to the critical voting rights legislation passed by the House earlier this year."
The bill has yet to make any progress in the House.
Make sure to check the laws in your state and alert your employer in advance if you plan to take time off to cast your ballot.