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119-s-2549119th CongressWALLET
Time Off to Vote Act
Sponsored By: Senator Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced
Summary
A national paid leave for voting. This bill would require employers to give employees at least two consecutive hours of paid leave during Federal election voting hours to vote, return a mail ballot, or perform other voting-related activities.
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- Workers and families: Employees could use paid time to vote or return ballots without losing any employment benefits that accrued before the leave. Employers may set when the leave must be taken and can require it during state early-voting periods.
- Employers: The rule would apply to employers with 25 or more employees. Violations could trigger civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation and enforcement by the Secretary of Labor under authority like the Family and Medical Leave Act.
- Voter protections and timing: The bill would make it illegal to interfere with or retaliate against employees who use the leave and would defer to state or local laws that provide greater leave. It would take effect beginning with the first Federal election after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Worker protections and employer penalties
If enacted, the bill would make it illegal for an employer to interfere with, deny, or punish an employee for taking voting leave. Employees would keep any job benefits they earned before taking the leave. The Secretary of Labor would have investigatory authority like under the FMLA. Employers that break the rule could face civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, payable to the U.S. Treasury and recoverable in federal court. The Secretary must weigh employer size, gravity, good faith, and past violations when assessing fines. This would start with the first Federal election after enactment.
Two-hour paid voting leave for workers
If enacted, the bill would let you get two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote on any Federal election day while polls or voting sites are open. The leave would also cover returning a mailed ballot in person and other voting activities. Your employer could set when the two hours must be taken and may require using it during a State early voting period. Lunch or other breaks could not count toward the two hours but can be taken right before or after. Employers must provide the leave when you request it. This would start with the first Federal election after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov