Voting Policy

Vanderbilt supports employees to participate in the political process by voting in local, county, state and national elections. This policy provides guidelines for staff to request paid time off for voting in local, county, state and national elections.

This policy applies to all the following employment categories: administrators, professionals, staff, and Vanderbilt Temporary Service employees.

Employees are encouraged to exercise their right to vote and, whenever possible, to vote during nonworking hours or by absentee ballot when appropriate. Please refer to county websites for poll hours and the absentee ballot process.

During early voting or on Election Day, employees who are registered to vote may be absent from work for a reasonable paid period of time, not to exceed three hours to vote. However, if the employee's schedule begins three hours or more after the opening of the polls or ends three hours or more before the closing of the polls the department is not required to approve time off from work to vote. 

If an employee requests time off to vote during early voting, that request must be made no later than three scheduled work days prior to the early voting day.  If an employee requests time off to vote on Election Day, that request must be made no later than noon the day prior to Election Day. The leader must review and approve/deny promptly. The leader may specify the hours during which the employee may be absent to vote, when needed. 

 PROCEDURES

 For more information, contact your  Engagement Consultant  

Please direct inquires to  human.resources@vanderbilt.edu

Subject	Contact/Position	Office	Phone
Questions	Director, Engagement Consulting, Employee and Labor Relations	People Experience	(615) 343-4788

Issued:                       
09/09/2020

Reviewed:
Comment

Amended:
Comment

   

Disclaimer: The policies and procedures that guide employment practices are intended to assist in consistent administration and compliance.  Vanderbilt reserves the right to modify its policies and practices, in whole or in part, at any time.  Revisions to existing policies and procedures, and the development of new policies and procedures, will be made from time to time at the discretion of the University.   When new policies are implemented or existing policies are revised, the University will notify members of the University community as soon as practicable.  However, where differences occur, the most recent policy as reviewed and approved by the University will take precedence. Policies are not intended to apply to statements or actions protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. (NLRA) The policies and procedures do not create a contract, implied or expressed, with at-will employees at Vanderbilt.