Time Off to Vote Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4908
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T08:08:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Time Off to Vote Act (H.R. 4908)
Purpose
This legislation requires certain employers to provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave on federal election days to allow time for voting, returning mail ballots in person, or engaging in other voting-related activities while polls are open.
Key Provisions
- Employers must grant the requested paid leave upon employee request, limited to federal elections.
- Employers may designate the specific two-hour window, including during early voting periods where permitted by state law; lunch or other breaks cannot count toward the two hours but may be scheduled consecutively.
- Employees retain all accrued employment benefits while on leave.
- Employers are prohibited from interfering with leave rights, retaliating against employees for using leave or participating in related proceedings, or discriminating for opposing unlawful practices.
- The Secretary of Labor holds investigative authority modeled on the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation assessed based on business size, violation severity, employer good faith, and prior violations.
- The law defines "employee" using the Fair Labor Standards Act and "employer" as any entity in commerce with 25 or more employees.
- The act does not override state or local laws offering more generous voting leave.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal mandate for paid voting leave, previously addressed only through varying state laws. It incorporates enforcement mechanisms from the Family and Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act definitions but applies exclusively to federal elections and sets a 25-employee threshold for coverage.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Department of Labor gains new investigative and penalty-assessment responsibilities for compliance monitoring.
- Citizens: Employees at covered workplaces gain guaranteed paid time for voting activities, potentially increasing participation without wage loss.
- International relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Employees working for businesses with 25 or more employees.
- Employers subject to the 25-employee threshold engaged in commerce.
- The Department of Labor, responsible for enforcement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill relies on Congress's authority over interstate commerce for its scope and enforcement. It preserves state authority by not preempting stronger state or local voting leave provisions. The use of civil penalties and anti-retaliation rules creates new federal protections tied to election participation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Cosponsors (53)
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] and 3 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Time Off to Vote Act — issued 2025-08-05 — PDF (6 pages)