S. 2549 — Time Off to Vote Act

This section requires an employer with 25 or more employees to provide, upon an employee's request, at least 2 consecutive hours of paid leave—while polls or voting sites are open—on the day of a federal election for the employee to vote, return a mail ballot in person, or perform other voting-related activities (with the employer able to designate the exact period, potentially during early voting, exclusive of lunch or other breaks). The leave does not affect other employment benefits and prohibits employer interference, restraint, denial of the right, or retaliation (including discharge or discrimination for opposing violations, filing charges, providing information, or testifying). The Secretary of Labor has FMLA-equivalent investigative authority, with violations subject to civil penalties up to $10,000 each (considering employer size, violation gravity, good faith, and prior violations). It uses the FLSA definition of "employee," defines "employer" to include persons engaged in or affecting commerce (as under the FMLA), does not preempt more generous state or local voting-leave laws, and takes effect for the first federal election after enactment.