Colleagues,


Greetings, I hope this note finds you well.  As you may be aware, the New York State legislature has modified the law governing paid time off to vote in elections.  The law states “A registered voter may, without loss of pay for up to three hours, take off so much working time as will enable him or her to vote at any election.”  Please note that the law also states:


1.     If the employee requires working time off to vote the employee shall notify his or her employer not less than two working days before the day of the election.  (Forms to request the time off can be found in the main office.)
 2.     The employee shall be allowed time off for voting only at the beginning or end of his or her working shift, as the employer may designate, unless otherwise mutually agreed
Polls in New York are open from 6 am – 9 pm on Election Day.  New York now has several days of early voting in Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as throughout New York City.  The intent of the law, I believe, is to give those who might otherwise be disenfranchised because of work obligations the opportunity to vote.  If needed, you are certainly entitled to the time, I only ask that you use this right judiciously.  It is my understanding that any missed mandated training will need to be made up at a future date.  Attached is a copy of the law.  The district has a posting on the main office bulletin board in every building.
 
In Solidarity,
Rob