On this Election Day, two Democratic state lawmakers have announced legislation to make future general election days paid state holidays for all Ohio workers.
State Reps. Erica Crawley (D-Columbus) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) are the sponsors of the bill. They said current state law allows "reasonable time" for workers to vote, but hourly workers don鈥檛 have to be paid if they do.
The legislators noted that shows hourly employees working in restaurants and retail have the lowest election turnout rates, while salaried workers with flexible schedules such as lawyers and executives have the highest rates of turnout.
Ohio is one of and offers the opportunity to cast ballots by mail or in person for 28 days before an election. But Sweeney said still go to their precincts on Election Day.
Sweeney says a paid holiday for governments and businesses would help voters, citing the move would be especially helpful to single parents and those working multiple jobs.
鈥淧eople like to vote on Election Day鈥攖hey like to vote in person," Sweeney said. "And also, a lot can change when you have 28 days. They are still making up their minds, so they should have that opportunity if they so choose.鈥�
This year, Sandusky Columbus Day with election day as a paid holiday.
The Pew Research Center says : Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and West Virginia. The center says support Election Day as a national holiday.
