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Bill

SB 473

VOTERS/VOTING: Provides for requested time-off to vote. (8/1/26)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Carter

Requires employers to provide paid time off to vote, with a two-hour outside-work window exception; noncompliance is a misdemeanor, effective Aug 1, 2026.

Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 473

Summary: SB 473 (Louisiana) – Voters/Voting: Provides for requested time-off to vote

Purpose and intent

SB 473 seeks to ensure that employees receive paid time off to vote in an election. The bill requires employers to grant this time off, with a specific exception related to polling hours, and establishes a misdemeanor penalty for violations. The measure takes effect August 1, 2026.

Key provisions

  • Paid time off to vote: Employers must allow employees paid time off to vote in an election.
  • Exception criterion: The requirement does not apply if the polls are open for two consecutive hours outside the employee’s working hours. In other words, if an employee can vote during a window that is at least two hours long and not overlapping with their scheduled work time, the paid time-off obligation may be deemed satisfied or unnecessary under the bill (the exact application language is subject to statutory interpretation).
  • Penalty for noncompliance: Violation of the time-off provision is a misdemeanor offense.
  • Effective date: August 1, 2026.
  • Statutory addition: Adds a new provision to the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 18:1462.2).

Who is affected

  • Employees: Individuals employed in Louisiana who need to vote in an election.
  • Employers: Businesses and other employers within Louisiana subject to state labor and employment standards, who must provide paid time off for voting or rely on a qualifying exception.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative status: The bill was amended by the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs. The amendment (Amendment No. 1) replaces “by absentee ballot” with “through early voting” in the stated language, refining the context in which voting time-off applies.
  • Effective date: The law would become effective on August 1, 2026.
  • Enforcement: Noncompliance constitutes a misdemeanor, indicating potential criminal penalties for employers who do not comply.

Practical considerations and potential impact

  • Workplace impact: Employers may need to adjust scheduling, payroll, and time-off policies to ensure employees can vote and receive paid leave, minimizing conflicts with work duties.
  • Voting access: The provision aims to reduce barriers to voting by ensuring paid time off is available, potentially improving voter participation.
  • Ambiguities to watch: The precise interpretation of the two-hour polling window exception and how it interacts with shift schedules could affect enforcement and compliance. The reference to “two consecutive hours outside of the employee’s working hours” may require case-by-case assessment.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language Q&A for employees and employers, or compare SB 473 to existing Louisiana voting leave norms.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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