Political polarization is at an all-time high, which might signal Arizona has its highest number of interested and invested voters this election year. However, it may also be the reason fewer people head to the polls to vote.
Supporting employees’ civic engagement in the election process is perhaps one of the most important ways employers can enact change throughout our communities — and it’s possible to do it without getting into politics.
Employees may be unsure whether they fully understand the issues at hand, or the differences between the candidates’ initiatives, without being clouded by political party rhetoric. Yet, it is important to encourage turnout at the polls and awareness of key issues on the ballot and the measures designed to address those issues.
Becoming Informed
To maximize voter engagement, companies can motivate their employees to become educated about the issues that are on the ballot this year while highlighting the issues that could potentially impact their businesses. Whether it be policy changes that could potentially affect a company’s bottom line or education resources that are in jeopardy of being eliminated, it’s important to encourage employees to lend their voice and their vote to help make a difference.
Another potential strategy is to host lunchtime voter awareness collaboratives in which employees can gather to discuss issues in a nonpartisan way with a designated facilitator. The goal of such meetings is to simply shed light on the ballot issues for discussion without persuading employees to vote one way or the other.
Providing tips and training for how to find accurate information and how to advocate for a cause can go a long way in creating a workforce that is passionate about civic engagement. These sorts of voter education programs can not only inform voters who might not have time to do their own research but also provide time and space for employees to create more cohesion with their fellow team members.
Time Off to Vote
Allowing time off to vote during office hours is another important component of supporting employees while performing their civic duty. Many employees (and even some employers) may not be aware that Arizona law requires that employees be provided time to vote on Election Day, specifically when there are fewer than three consecutive hours between the time that polls open or close and the beginning or end of their regular shifts.
For the employee, this provides ample time to participate in the election process without the burden of a reduction in pay or disciplinary action. Employers can, however, specify the hours during which the employee can be absent, whether in the morning or afternoon, while employees must communicate their plan to be absent to their employer one day prior to Election Day.
Addressing Underlying Anxiety
According to a recent poll by the American Psychiatric Association, 73% of U.S. adults are anxious about the upcoming election. This means employers can be a valuable resource by offering workplace wellness initiatives through their employee assistance programs and benefit packages, such as 1:1 counseling, mindfulness training or meditation techniques to use at work to reduce stress and anxiety. Constant monitoring of television, radio and social media during election years can also be draining for users, so creating space for employees to decompress and take a break is essential to their overall health.
Volunteering to ‘Experience’ the Issues
A more immersive strategy that employers could offer as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts is enabling employees to volunteer and serve their local communities to see, experience and provide help or assistance firsthand to nonprofit organizations who work to address community-level issues that may be impacted by upcoming ballot measures. The “snowball effect” of change is significant when companies bring together employees for a common good to transform the communities in which their employees and customers live, work and play. This could include engaging in volunteer projects that help improve living conditions and access to food, housing, healthcare, education and/or job training programs.
Voting has long been touted as society’s civic duty but has become an increasingly divisive topic. When people come together and prove that we are stronger united than divided, we can begin to tackle the key issues that need to be addressed to strengthen our Arizona communities and the quality of life for our families, friends and neighbors.
Prepare for Election Day, November 5, 2024
- Register to Vote
- Key Upcoming Dates
- October 7, 2024 | Voter Registration Deadline
- October 9, 2024 | Early Voting Begins
- October 25, 2024 | Last Day to Request Ballot By Mail
- October 29, 2024 | Mail Back Your Ballot By Date
- November 1, 2024 | Last Day to Vote Early In-Person
- November 5, 2024 | Election Day
- Resources to Share with Employees for Accurate and Trusted Election Information
Tracy Bonjean is the vice president of people and culture at Valley of the Sun United Way. Discover how Valley of the Sun United Way is creating Mighty Change across Maricopa County and how your company can get involved.
