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Senator urges making Election Day a legal holiday and adding paid voting leave
Summary
Sen. Rausch told the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight the bill would make Election Day a state holiday in even‑numbered years and add two hours paid voting leave for workers who cannot observe the holiday, citing Pew Research turnout reasons and other states' practices.
Senator Rausch told the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight on May 12 she is sponsoring a bill to make Election Day a legal holiday in Massachusetts on the first Tuesday in November in even‑numbered years and to provide two hours of paid voting leave for workers who must work on that day.
Rausch said barriers to voting persist because many people cannot get to polling places around work or school schedules. She cited Pew Research Center findings that the most common reason reported for not voting in recent elections was a conflicting schedule and noted that other democracies that make Election Day a holiday tend to have higher turnout. The bill would pair the holiday with a paid leave provision for essential workers who cannot take the holiday off.
The senator argued that the proposal has broad public support and noted that several U.S. states already require time off for voting and provide similar accommodations. She asked the committee for a favorable report and offered to answer questions. The committee acknowledged the testimony; no vote was taken on May 12.
