The midterm elections are upon us, which means you get to vote for your next congressman and about a 1/3 of the senators are up for election and most of you get to vote for your senator. Don’t forget the state and local elections.
In many states that means employers must allow their employees to have time off to vote. In 31 states, voting takes legal precedence over work
.
Make sure that you vote and that your employees have time to vote.
For each polling place here in my Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
- They must display the national flag. [MGL c.54, §25A]
- They can’t serve alcohol in the any portion of the building designated as a polling place. [MGL c.54, §24]
- You also carry intoxicating liquor into the polling place. [MGL c.54, §73]
- Voting machines have to suitably lighted so you can read the ballot. [MGL c.54, §33A]
- You can’t smoke at the polling place. [MGL c.54, §73]
So if you’re trying to vote in Massachusetts and you just bought a drink, the lights are dim, you’re smoking a cigar and you can’t salute the flag, then your polling place is not in compliance.
Sources:
- Chart of election time off requirements
- Reminder of Obligations Imposed on Employers by State Voting Rights Laws by Jackson Lewis
- An Employer’s Guide to Elections: Time Off For Voting in Connecticut And Threats by Daniel Schwartz
Updated to correct my voting miscalculation.
Only 1/3rd get to vote for Senator? Nope. One-third of Senators are up for election every two years, but each state has TWO Senators. Thus, in an average biennial election TWO-THIRDS of voters have a Senatorial election. And this year the national percentage is a bit higher than average because CA, NY, FL, IL, OH, and PA have Senate elections (All the largest states except for Texas). New Yorkers even get to vote twice because there is a special Senate election to fill the remainder of Hilary Clinton’s term.
You are absolutely correct. Clearly, I confused who was up for election with who gets to vote.