Do Marylanders get paid time off to vote?
The answer is ... maybe.
Consumerist posted a link to a state-by-state breakdown of laws about time off for voting, in case you need some leverage with a supervisor or two.
In Maryland,
"An employee is allowed up to two hours to vote if the polls aren’t open two consecutive hours outside the employee’s regular shift. The time off is paid with proof that the employee voted. (Md. Code Ann. Section 10-315)"
Findlaw.com has another state-by-state breakdown with links to the actual language, as well.
Since polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Maryland ...
I'm guessing this would mostly apply to employees who work 12-hour shifts, such as nurses or other medical personnel?
But there's no relief for folks who have a long commute and/or get stuck in a long line due to huge voter turnouts (yay!) or technical problems (let's keep our fingers crossed that this does not happen).
I guess the bottom line is, if you are able to vote at off-peak hours (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) please do so ... because some of your fellow drudges won't get paid if they're late to punch in.
(photo: Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
