DE HB225

Requires private employers to provide 2 hours of paid time off to any employee scheduled to work at least 8 hours on election day to vote in municipal, county, state, or federal elections.

Excludes from coverage employees in agriculture, domestic service, executive/professional roles, those employed by government, nonprofit workers, maritime workers, summer camp counselors, inmates, and those covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Allows employers to specify voting time during employee's scheduled shift but prohibits designating lunch or other breaks as voting time; employees must request time off at least 2 working days in advance.

Establishes civil penalties of $500-$1,000 for employer violations and $1,000-$5,000 for discrimination against employees exercising voting rights; requires employers to post notice at least 10 working days before each election.

Applies identical paid time off requirements to public employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements, with public employees able to sue for actual damages if employers retaliate for exercising voting rights.