The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently announced that federal employees may now receive up to four hours of administrative leave to vote in federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial elections.
OPM also noted that federal employees may now use up to four hours of administrative leave per year to serve as non-partisan poll workers or observers.
“The functioning of our democracy and protecting the right to vote are core American ideals,” said Kiran Ahuja, OPM Director. “Today’s guidance advances fundamental goals of the Biden-Harris Administration: to promote democracy, reduce barriers to voting for federal employees, and further position the federal government as a model employer for other employers to follow. OPM is proud to help lead this effort.”
Previous Guidance on Voting
Historically, OPM guidance has provided administrative leave to federal employees on election day only. It also allowed employees to access paid time off in limited circumstances based on employee’s work schedule and the polling hours in their community.
New Guidance on Voting
“The new guidance,” OPM wrote in statement, “recognizes that voting has evolved beyond a single election day and reduces barriers to voting by directing agencies to provide time off for employees to vote at any time the polls are open, either on election day or during an early voting period.”
OPM is authorizing agencies to grant up to four hours of administrative leave, which may be combined with other leave or time off, for employees to work as a non-partisan poll worker or election observer. Under the previous policy, federal agencies were encouraged to authorize excused absences for employees who wanted to serve as non-partisan election officials.
To read the guidance issued, go here.