Governments, sports teams to provide time off for voting and volunteering at the polls

This year’s general election will be one of the most pivotal in history, and the City of St. Petersburg plans to take an active role in promoting democracy.

In an email to city staff Wednesday, Mayor Rick Kriseman announced that all employees are eligible for two hours of paid leave for voting or volunteering as a poll worker. Early voting begins Oct. 19 and employees will have until election day Nov. 3 to take advantage of the paid time off.

“I am pleased to provide this opportunity to you and thank you for your continued hard work through challenging times,” Kriseman wrote. “While this is the first time such an opportunity has been afforded, my hope is that this is the beginning of a new tradition for the City of St. Petersburg.”

The city of St. Pete isn’t the only local organization encouraging its staff to get involved in the election. The Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Rowdies will be offering a paid holiday Nov. 3 and employees can use that day to vote or to volunteer.

We’re going to vote pic.twitter.com/oWyz8cbeAW

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 31, 2020

Additionally, the Buccaneers the Stanley Cup champion Lightning, USF Athletics and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission will also offer paid time off for anyone who wants to help at the polls. And it’s not just sports teams getting involved. A number of other organizations including Feeding Tampa Bay, Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership have also pledged to provide paid time off to team members interested in volunteering at the polls.

According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the country is facing a critical shortage of poll workers, many of whom are over 61 and therefore more vulnerable to complications from Covid-19. Because a large number of these volunteers are opting to sit this year out for health reasons, it’s critical that other people step up to the plate to help.

That’s exactly why Kriseman wanted the city to do its part both through volunteering and voting.

“Those who aren’t registered to vote or who are unable to vote can volunteer their time,” said city spokesman Ben Kirby. “We trust our employees to do so and be engaged in the democratic process.”

Ideally, increased participation in elections will become a tradition for the city.

“If we can afford to do it, we’ll do it for every election cycle going forward,” Kirby said.

For the list of offices up for election Nov. 3, click here.