Bill Gives Employees Time Off to Vote

03.14.2019
Issues & Policies

Lawmakers are considering legislation giving Connecticut employees up to four hours off work to vote in a regular or special election for any state, district, or municipal office.
CBIA’s Eric Gjede told members of the legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee that the mandate outlined in SB 358 will negatively impact Connecticut businesses.
“Requiring businesses to provide employees with four or more hours off during the work day to vote is yet one more cost, due to loss of productivity, that businesses must incur,” Gjede testified March 12.
Gjede noted that current polling hours—6 am to 8 pm—give employees ample time to vote without interfering with work schedules.
“Exercising one’s constitutional right to vote is important, and there are 14 hours in any given election day to do so,” he said.
“Individuals who are aware their work will take them out of their district on election day can also vote via absentee ballot.”

Exercising one's constitutional right to vote is important, and there are 14 hours in any given election day to do so.

He noted that Connecticut's economy is still recovering from the 2008-2010 recession.
"It is unclear what barrier exists to prevent individuals from voting before or after work," Gjede said.
"It is also atypical in most jurisdictions for it to take four hours to vote, even with travel time included, in our geographically small state."
Gjede said the proposal impedes an employer's ability to plan proper shift coverage, particularly in industries where employees care for children, the elderly, or those needing medical care.
"For this reason, we urge the committee to reject SB 358," he told the committee.


For more information, contact CBIA's Eric Gjede (860.480.1784) | @egjede

Tags:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected with CBIA News Digests

The latest news and information delivered directly to your inbox.

CBIA IS FIGHTING TO MAKE CONNECTICUT A TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE MEANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.