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Regardless of your political persuasions voting is essential.
With the endless number of ways votes are suppressed. The number one thing I see people bring up is “I have to work”.
Know your rights. Know that most states allow time off work to vote.
Each state has its own rules in terms of when or how to give notice to your work.
Links bellow to find out.
https://www.workplacefairness.org/voting-rights-time-off-work
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/exreq/pages/details.aspx?erid=225
Edit: Seems the only comments are going to be “I don’t need this because I get off work at such and such time, so no one else needs it either.” Simply put, a lot of people need this. There are millions of people that either work weird hours, have long travel times or no transportation, or for one reason or another cannot get to voting locations in time. They need it.
hokeyreligions
Anyone in Maine can get an absentee ballot, I use them, when I remember to request it in time.
TheJourn
Wait a minute - I live in MN. How long has this been a thing? I’ve been working my full shift and going to vote afterward like a tool.
SpaceGhostToast
Oh look at that. My home state Louisiana is always behind the times.
makesense
Many of these apply only to Presidential general elections, not primaries.
dingofdong
"I can't afford time off work to vote" is like... the definition of a capitalist dystopia
CyborgScribe
By design. Sorta like how voter registration laws conveniently tend to make it hardest for minorities to vote.
dingofdong
It continues to baffle me that anyone could unironically call the USA the "greatest country in the world", you guys are pretty fucked
TheEvenPrez
It should be a bankers holiday
StalinForTime
No limit, guess I'm taking the day.
bsmithwins
Oregon vote by mail FTW!
MethGasolinePissLemonade
It's awesome! Hopefully they don't switch to electronic
bsmithwins
Agreed. Newer doesn’t equal better.
EdwardLongshanks
Register for mail-in ballots. You can either mail your completed ballot with standard postage stamp or drop it off at multiple locations.
jdm2
Michigan now allows absentee ballots for any legal voter.
Fravash
Mail-in ballots is THE B E S T. It makes the whole process so dang easy. Probably why it's not as common.
Zreen
I'm a nonbenefit employee, I don't get paid leave for anything
UnpopularOpinionsGuy
Yeah, I'd like to see my boss' faces when I tell them they are required to give me 2 hours pto to vote. They'd laugh me out the door.
ospreymec
Virginia just passed a law cancelling Lee-Jackson day in favor of making Election Day a state holiday.
Govote
You can check your voter registration at vote.org
ObeyThePitBull
Oregonian here. I make a few check marks, sign it and on my way. Can't even imagine going somewhere to wait in line?! Blows my mind.
ObeyThePitBull
Although sometimes I feel like I miss out on the "experience" of voting like others get to, (and the movies) but convenience wins out.
shadefang
given that the "experience" seems to be largely inconvenient and less effective, I don't really think we're missing out.
skruttet
In Sweden they go out of their way to make sure everyone is able to vote. There are even people who work with going around hospitals and >
SuperPickle17
disgusting.
skruttet
What?
SuperPickle17
encouraging people to chose their fate.
skruttet
>care homes to pick up peoples ballots.
nzconcon
Voting is always on Saturday in NZ plus there are early voting stations dotted around in accessible places for anyone to use.
PokemonWithCrayons
Several of the not-blue states allow mail voting.
Mayzowl
Yup. I know in North Dakota you can, it's just not the sole way to vote.
369ItsAlwaysAGoodTime
Many states allow absentee ballots to be sent by mail. Basically pre-voting before election day. Not an option for everyone
Djkrane
Voting in person is way overrated, much prefer to sit at home and carefully read the items and take my time. Mail in for life!
OMFGWhatHaveWeDONE
It would be a national holiday right now it Moscow Mitch hadn't single handedly decided to kill the bipartisan bill.
whydotheycometometodie
In Louisiana, polls are open more than 12 hours on Election Day, so you can work a full 8 hour day and still be able to vote.
scheid97
What am I missing. Florida polls are open 12 hours, early voting, and absentee ballots.
YannC
I don't get why elections are on a Tuesday in the US instead of Sunday. I realize not everyone has Sunday off, but way more ppl than Tuesday
WTHisaDIMMAK
Club goes up on Tuesdays. Source: https://youtu.be/Y1_VsyLAGuk
W92Baj
God, probably
Fzoid
In Germany elections are always on a Sunday and you're able to vote by mail if you choose to.
garamasike
Election day should be a national holiday so more people can be off work to vote, and/or everything should be vote by mail.
combatwombat0
Maybe Saturday? Or Monday so more people are persuaded to get a 3 day weekend
simbion
It’s may be against some religions & harder to get public transport on Sundays.
mrlemonofbanana
Voting by mail fixes both of these. Although I am curious, are voting booths so far in between in the US as to require public transport? 1/?
mrlemonofbanana
The furthest I've had to "travel" in Germany was 1km, less in larger towns. And I assume that people in rural areas rely on cars anyway. 2/2
simbion
We have a lot of elderly, in some cases it’s a few miles to the polls, we don’t have a lot of sidewalks. Transport is needed in some cases.
qqafjbgjbbvzj
what religion doesn t allow you to vote on a Sunday?!
simbion
It might be considered work which very religious Catholics or some other faith might have issues with. I used to run elections in my town.
simbion
We tried to have early voting hours on a Sunday & couldn’t get staff to run the polls.
TatersWhatsTatersPrecious
Just vote absentee, so much easier
SuperPickle17
or sit on your hands. Results are the same.
The701
Depends on the state. They only allow mail-in voting for a few specific reasons that would fully prevent you from reaching a polling place.
LizardEnterprises
In New York, you're only allowed to absentee vote if you physically cannot be at a polling station election day.
Z3roCo0l
Oh look texas and Minnesota being epic!
SoundFuture
In TX only if you can't vote outside of working hours. Employer gets fined if they don't let you and overtime rates apply if it's overtime.
ADDGirl
I'd love to tell my manager to cover my patients for an unlimited amount of time to go vote.
Tonicboom
As a texan: yeah boss, I won't be in for the next two days. Yeah I'm votin.
avocadoslut
We always are though amirite
PeterPanGuineaPig
Alaska: "Am I a joke to you?"
PMmeYourFeetLadies
Minnesota has the highest voter turnout in the nation.
PMmeYourFeetLadies
And interestingly, Texas has the 4th lowest. http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/voter-turnout-by-state/
shadefang
Isn't texas also the one that had a whole bunch of shit about relocating voting centers farther away from poor (read, not white) areas?
Ralvuimego
I don't blame you for forgetting Alaska. Everyone else does.
punderstorm
Especially when it comes to Texas, they're always on about how "everything is big in Texas" even tho alaska is 3 times the size of them
ViolentlyOfferingBeerToSheep
because alaska is essentially canada
Ralvuimego
Americanada.
marbiter
I love my mail in ballots, go WA! It shows up, I can take my time and research. Best part, no postage necessary.
PunishMentor
New Jersey can vote by mail. Polls are for suckers.
SonderingStrike
In Britain, you can do a mail vote wherever there are mail boxes. No clue why you yanks havent figured that out yet en masse.
WitzyDitzy
I live in Ohio, but I always vote by mail. It's so much simpler.
Comet260
WE NEED VOTE BY MAIL NATIONWIDE!
marbiter
Yes. It makes voting easy. Unfortunately, there are people in the USA that don’t want the voting process to be easy.
Comet260
Looking at you, MITCH.
onecowboytoo
Yay, WA. Me too.
MoundofVenus
NYS we have to pay for postage.
Flakesmelter
How do they verify you are you?
marbiter
I have a drivers licensed with an address they send it to and then I sign it. It makes it easy to vote.
Hypothesist
"I can take my time and research" what? why cant you otherwise?
CommunCreator
Research on the internet and you’re deluged with punditry & tin-foil-hattery. As opposed to the ACTUAL TEXT of the proposed legislation.
RichManSCTV0
Worst part is mail fraud! And all the lost ballots!
MrCroupAndMrVandemar
Oregonian. Can confirm. Mail in ballots are the shit.
shinyletsbebadguys
Oregonian here, vote by mail is seriously the best. The booklet they send has the actual legal language of each tax and ordinance, helpful!
0soGrande
California has mail in ballots too, so this is inaccurate in that it doesn't say that.. BUT you can get time off to vote, as well if you if
0soGrande
you prefer. I choose to mail in my ballot because screw interacting with people.
CommunCreator
Once again, almost every state has mail-in ballots, but Washington & Oregon are mail-in ONLY.
margaery
Also love that it did used to require postage, and then we voted, by mail, and now it doesn't require postage. Vote.
BaddyOneShoe
Do you think they count your vote? I'm not being a dick, I have just lost all faith in the system. I'm not going to stop voting...
BaddyOneShoe
But I think they just trash the ballots anyway.3 times I've watched the loser win in my life.Money determines leadership in our "democracy".
LeSethX
It's odd this map lists those 2 as the only mail in states, as I always use a mail in ballot but drop it off
jawsoshuell
It is misleading. What it means is that those two states are vote by mail *only*.
BluddLoard
Even better for political corruption, if they don't like the ballot it can get mysteriously 'lost' by the postal service.
marbiter
I have the ability to look online to see if it’s been accepted.
princessdogface
Mailed mine today!
rockfireman
I did mine on Monday, I'm so glad I live in WA, makes it so much easier.
KresblainTheMagician
Same! So glad I moved from PA to WA!
CrunchWrapFrappuccinoo
Vote by mail is awesome.
DCNR
High five from your southern neighbor! Mail-ins are the best.
RedFairladyZ32
Last time I voted by mail, my vote wasn't accepted because apparently my signature didn't match.
marbiter
I’d be pissed and down at my local court house raising a huge stink.
Kazgen
A curious question, how do they know your ballot was filled out by you? Seems rather exploitable in a number of ways.
RevengeIsIceCream
Also, how do they keep the secrecy of the vote?
marbiter
They don’t, but if someone stole my ballot (felony-mail theft) I’d report it. My signature is required.
Thatonebicycledude
You have to sign it and they compare the signatures. I got called by the AZ state recorder asking me to confirm it bc they didn’t match once
MyFeebleTurtleDuck
Signature confirmation. And they DO check! I was sloppy one year and got s call about it.
Huggitt17
Yeah, but where's my time off to vote!? I want that too!
BrazilianThunderPanda
I did mine while taking a shit.
crimpitdown9001
MoreSmoresForThores
That's where I do all my important business and phone calls.
MothMonsterMan
Those are voting booths, not porta-pottys. Don't shit in the ballot box please.
sexybuttercup
Sir, this is a Wendys.
LineCook
WA in the houuuuse!
NapoleonDynOmite
Oregon and Washington are far ahead of every other state. I love voting by mail (OR). My wife and I sit down and debate all the choices>>>
NapoleonDynOmite
<<>>
NapoleonDynOmite
<<< east I've lived in. Pa, In, Il, Va, Mn &Oh. But voting is the only good thing here. Please don't move here
coehl
So you're plastered by the time you seal the envelope. This explains some recent elections.
shadyminivan
Yeah plus Portland is gross and there is nothing good there...really just a example of our state overall. People wouldn't like it. Stay away
Comet260
Go to downtown Portland and see crackheads, hobos and methheads in the wild!
ladeedahh
Seriously, we’re full lol
NapoleonDynOmite
People are jerks, and it's so ugly here. Southern California is so much nicer.
RobMx80
Do you get some kind of confirmation your vote actually made it in?
marbiter
Yes. I’ve already checked. It’s pretty easy to find online.
totallyarogue
WA here - yeah, your ballot comes with a tracking number that you enter into website to see where your ballot is in the process.
BatsArentBugs
What gerrymandering, cousin marrying, non-voting ass hat it downvoting this? Go Washington!!!!!
Larirari
I always vote by mail. Whenever I hear of people going to polling places, it boggles my mind.
DR650Dude
Colorado is also a vote by mail state. I get a ballot about a month to month and a half early and there are a slew of drop off locations
khazaria
but not exclusively, hence the different colors
DR650Dude
that are 24/7. I can mail it back in, or vote in person as well.
DR650Dude
And since I"m in "independent" I got primary ballots for both parties. I use them to troll the political spammers asking me to vote one way
ChildishTallBino
Hi. VA here. I always hate the drag of having to find a wya to vote. It’s a lottery of if you’re off that day. Trading shifts, trying to /1
ChildishTallBino
2/ working to exhibit your right to vote. *way.
CommunCreator
* exercise. Unless you’re an exhibitionist.
BrazilianThunderPanda
Other states are seriously missing out. Vote by mail is WAY better. Only down side is no “I voted” stickers.
jawsoshuell
Most other states have vote by mail as well.
philovirus
In Portland you can stop by the library or any city/county office and get your I Voted sticker. Some high schools have them too.
extrasad
Can I lie and get one even if I didn't vote?
NobodyKnowsImGayla
In my little town they have folks standing out by the main drop off box during the day to hand out stickers!
NobodyKnowsImGayla
Oh, and I'm in California. We're a vote by mail county - San Mateo.
PugPizza
In San Jose my sticker got mailed to me with my ballot
brunchfast
Just voted in Colorado via mail. They included an "I voted" sticker with the ballot :)
IlexLegion
Plenty of the states that allow time off also offer mail in ballot programs
OtterlyMagnificent
As an Arizonan, yeah, I've been signed up for Mail-in since I decided it was too much risk to not guarantee my vote getting in. My local 1/
OtterlyMagnificent
post office has a vote-by-mail box with a supervisor who you can hand the envelope directly to. In and out in 10 seconds.2/2
Needtolaughmore
A sticker was in mine but I'm also down in northern California. Why do people care so much about that sticker though?
Somarlane
Because stickers!
STR4NGERdanger
I feel that it may motivate others to vote. The more people around them that do so the more left out they feel for not doing it.
Needtolaughmore
Oh no doubt, but guilting someone into voting seems kinda like the wrong way to go about it.
STR4NGERdanger
You're right it seems wrong, but I'm proud to have put in all the effort that goes along with voting. I can't help if someone feels guilty.
bonessasan
AZ also has mail ballots.
khazaria
But also polling places
bonessasan
Also true. Lol
Dewbs
I always offer my staff time to vote, and transportation if it's needed. But I only have a staff of 7.
[deleted]
[deleted]
WelDemNuTzzz
This America BUD we is buzzy peeps ;)
RoxannaTroy
Still important! Nice work, and thank you
maninthedarkness
I have a staff of steel with a pewter dragon head.
BigFatBobbie
Upsh1ft
You sound like a good boss.
blob87
I have a magic staff of wisdom but it can't vote
BigFatBobbie
Retromorphic
And a minibus... ?
ESama
And pizza after.
SociallyAwkwardCanadianMoose
So a voting pizza party at work?
dohcohv
Minivan*
dabrick31
It also depends on employer. Just because the state doesn’t mandate time off to vote doesn’t mean your employer won’t give it to you.
bathsaltsforbreakfast
Can confirm here in Florida. Employer gives us time to vote.
DeinnsBeans
As an electrician. I am 100% voting before my shift. Yeah I'll be late, I'm still getting my 8 hours. Do something.
dabrick31
Skilled labor ftw
Asadsadsadclown
And depending on the state that is illegal. Again, know your rights. Use them.
HessianGhost
That isn't illegal anyfuckingwhere. An employer can choose to give you time off even if they don't have to.
root1657
Asadsadsadclown
California for one. The employer is required to notify YOU of your right to do this. You only have to give 2 days notice.
SparkSkyBanjaMU
In my state it's not required for employees to take breaks, you think I'd be able to get time to go do this? Maybe it's changed in a 1/2
SparkSkyBanjaMU
Year, but had an employer who only allowed us to have lunch, and then another who threatened to take away our breaks. ?
Asadsadsadclown
"my state being" and hey ya know, maybe dont work for maniacs, maybe sue them for breaking the law, maybe report labor violations.
Asadsadsadclown
It is your right to have 2 hours paid time off to vote in any state wide election. Take it.
BunchaCrunchOfHuman
I think you read this comment backwards. The point is, even if your state doesn't allow, ask your boss, cause they might be flexible
coolcatgray
Yeah, tried to tell this to my boss when I worked at a restaurant and they reminded me Tennessee is a "right to hire right to fire" state
feeltheice
Cool see you in court
linearcore
Pretty sure your boss saying that out loud can be used as proof of retaliation if you get fired for voting. Really hard to prove, though.
coolcatgray
Hard to pay for lawyers without an income too
linearcore
There are labor rights lawyers who will take cases based on the settlement payout. Or even pro bono. But you'd really need to search around.
eissie
It’s your right to sue too. *shrug*
RaptorCav
Virginia just approved a bill to replace a state holiday for traitors to election day!
PickleMeElmoooo
I wonder if the black face governor will approve the bill. He is very busy smothering babies. Err I mean "making them comfortable"
BigFatBobbie
skonthebass
From Virginia, Lee-Jackson day
ShowMeBunnies
From Virginia, thank god they stopped that lee-jackson-king day bs already.
Sigge1981
In Sweden election days are always on Sundays, and the places you go to vote are open from early in the morning to late in the evening.
mrlemonofbanana
Same in Germany. And then there's voting by mail on top of that, for those that still can't make it.
storebrandproductmascot
But do they require employers to offer a paid day off for that holiday, or is it totally meaningless like every other holiday in the U.S.?
BigFatBobbie
Every day everywhere is meaningless. Get with it, brotha!
catsandcoke
It’s only for State employees
iKeepLosingBobbyPins
In South Africa, voting/election day is always a holiday. I don't understand why it's not commonplace everywhere...
keertus
Because here Republicans don't WANT people to vote. They do better with lower turnout.
jebbers12
A lot of people are blaming Republicans. But there was also a study that showed holiday didn't impact numbers enough to justify.
wandergeist
Because in South Africa the memory of being violently prevented from voting is still fresh in the minds of so many.
EroticZombiePants
Well for one thing, there's one side that wants as few people voting as possible, possibly more in countries with over 2 parties.
GGCrono
When the poor can vote, Republicans tend to lose.
Hyero
A lot of people tend to live paycheck to paycheck in the US and taking time to vote can mean losing everything if you aren't paid.
Hyero
You'll notice a majority of our swing states, important states than can turn the outcome of the polls, all have limited or no time to vote.
ImNotTaylorSwift
Voter suppression is easier if election day isn't a holiday or weekend. Think about like a Republican and it makes sense.
ThisGuyPostingThings
I think it's the Presidents/MLK Day concern, that the reason's forgotten and people just stay home/shop, and some things need to stay open.
InkyBlinkyPinkyAndClyde
People are seriously saying "we shouldn't get more holidays because people ignore the reason for some of the ones we have"?
ThisGuyPostingThings
It has been said. I remember it in particular over debates whether to make Remembrance Day an official holiday in Canada.
InkyBlinkyPinkyAndClyde
Really? They made Family Day a holiday in Ontario a few years ago for basically no reason. Just because it's Feb and it sucks.