A group of House Democrats has proposed legislation that would require all employers to give workers at least two hours of paid leave so they can vote in federal elections.
The Time Off to Vote Act, from Rep. Matthew Cartwright, D-Pa., is aimed at creating a federal rule to allow time for voting, since 25 states don’t require employers to give their workers any time off.
“Voting should not be a luxury that only the well-off can afford,” Cartwright said. “This bill helps ensure that all Americans, regardless of their economic status, are able to exercise the right to vote.”
Cartwright said many working-class people can’t afford to take off the one to three hours needed to vote.
Democrats in particular have been arguing the federal government needs to do more to encourage voter turnout, and have charged state-level Republican officials with taking steps to make it harder to vote.
Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., proposed a separate bill on Friday aimed at modernizing voter registration, promoting access to voting for disabled people, and protecting people’s right to vote.
