Daily Record

Maryland voters are expected to flock to the polls on Tuesday, and the widespread participation, coupled with the potential for voting booth delays, could make the workday a little different than business as usual.

Many firms will allow workers to make time to vote, while others are encouraging employees to vote before or after their shifts. The polls, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., are expected to be busiest in the morning and evening hours.

Guy Mickley, president of the Maryland Association of Election Officials, is encouraging people to vote between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and he said it is difficult to predict where and when there could be delays. The state is expecting 85 percent of registered voters to turn out, he said, up from about 78 percent in the 2004 presidential election.

Not every employer has the flexibility to let workers leave in mid-shift to vote, though a state law requires them to give employees up to two hours of paid leave to vote if they do not have two hours outside of their shift to get to the polls.

Tracey Halvorsen, creative director and principal of Fastspot, an interactive design agency in East Baltimore, said the 11 employees at her firm should make voting their top priority Tuesday.

[...]

Other employers have tasks that cannot be interrupted or completed at a different time. Though state administrative offices will be closed for the election, the Maryland Transit Administration will still operate its public transportation lines. Spokeswoman Jawauna Greene said the MTA will be encouraging employees to vote before or after shifts, which usually begin in early morning or in the afternoon. She said employees should have time to vote, especially since MTA has a state cap on overtime hours.

At Constellation Energy Group Inc., company officials have been reminding voters about the election and helping them find polling places. Spokeswoman Debra Larsson said the company is hoping employees will do their voting outside of work hours, though employees with extenuating circumstances can work out scheduling issues with their supervisors.

[...]

Other employers, including Towson-based Black & Decker Corp., said they do not have specific human resource policies related to voting.

Laura E. Perry, spokeswoman for Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, said the law firm normally does not make special arrangements for voting.

[...]

Other area law offices said they give employees the option of voting during the day if it suits them.

Tina F. Lewandowski, marketing director for Niles, Barton & Wilmer LLP in Baltimore, said long lines and hold-ups at polls shouldn’t be an issue as long as employees communicate when they will be out of the office and for how long. The firm employs more than 60 lawyers and support staff.

[...]

Lauren Young, director of litigation at the Maryland Disability Law Center, said people at her office may vote at a convenient time, given that some staff members are in for a long work day. The MDLC will also be manning an election protection hotline that will field disability-specific concerns like accessibility to voting booths while maintaining privacy.

[...]

Tom Saquella, president of the Maryland Retailers Association, said some companies encourage voters to use absentee ballots if they expect to be working on Election Day. Still, he said many retail employees have part-time shifts that allow them time to vote when they are not working.

Will Burns, spokesman for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber understands that every company strives to make its work force as productive as possible. Still, he said it is important that companies encourage their workers to participate in elections, so the chamber encourages such practices as paid time off to vote.

Related posts:

1. Early voting referendum
2. Miscommunication leads to voters turned away in Maryland
3. Lamone warns legislators on early voting
4. Release: Maryland GOP Calls For End To New Poll Tax For Absentee Ballot Voters
5. Lawyers gear up for election day