Q: Can my employer refuse to give
me time off to vote?
A: Employers are required to give
their employees two hours paid time off to vote.
According to section 36(2) of the
Representation of People Act 1967, as amended
"Every employer shall on polling day allow every elector in his
employ the prescribed period for voting and no employer shall make any
deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such elector or impose upon
or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during that period"
Additionally, according to Rule
28 under the Election Rules deemed to be made under section 161 of the Act
states:
“Every employer shall permit each elector in his employment to be
absent from his work on polling day during the hours of the poll for two hours
in addition to the normal midday meal hour.”
The penalty for non-compliance is
enshrined in section 96 of the Act:
"An employer who fails to comply with any of the provisions on
section 36 (2) and any person who directly or indirectly by intimidation, undue
influence, or in any other way interferes with the granting to an elector or
the prescribed period for voting referred to in that subsection is liable on
summary conviction to fine of $30,000 or to imprisonment for 12 months."
