We wanted to remind employers that the general election day in Puerto Rico will be on November 5, 2024.

We also wanted to remind employers that, since 2020 (Act 58-2020), Puerto Rico employers must provide voters the option of early mail-in voting. 

• Employers may ask their employees to arrange for early mail-in voting and/or to visit an early voting center on General Election Day.
  • The early voting option is available up to fifty (50) days before the General Election Day (for the 2024 election, September 16, 2024).
  • Early Voting Requests are available on the Puerto Rico Electoral Commission’s website.
  • No notices are required.

• If early voting was not possible (for any reason), the law requires all employers to grant a 2-hour paid leave for employees to vote. The voting leave applies to all employees who are registered voters and are scheduled to work during a voting event.
  • If more time is needed due to wait times or the distance between the workplace and the assigned polling station, employers may charge the excess of two (2) hours to accrued vacation, or, in the case of a non-exempt employee, it may go unpaid.

Employer violations of voting leave rights and/or the anti-discrimination protections on political affiliation entail civil and criminal penalties, plus the affected employee may claim remedies of reinstatement, back-pay, and double damages.

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