Election day is a legal holiday and most people have the day off work. JB Pritzker in June. July 14, 2020 rachelxidis Official Announcements. By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A Sangamon County judge has ruled local units of government are exempt from a law the General Assembly passed this year declaring the Nov. 3 general election as a state holiday and requiring all government offices to be closed that day, unless they are used as polling places or for other election … Some companies are taking Election Day time off as an internal policy. Illinois law said workers must be give two hours of paid time off to vote, but that’s only if the polls are not open two hours before or after an employee’s shift. Although employers in Illinois are not required to observe holidays, some do recognize days such as Christmas and New Year’s Day, but even in that case, they are not required to pay their employees if the business is closed and/or the employee is not scheduled to work. Governor of Illinois to be a day during which the agencies of : the State of Illinois that are ordinarily open to do business : with the public shall be closed for business. Declaring Election Day a holiday has been proposed various times in Congress; it's a popular idea. DE Statute 1-501, DE State 29-5104. And since 1943, Illinois has granted state workers a paid day off. According to a newly enacted Illinois law, November 3, 2020 -- election day --will be observed as a state holiday. J.B. Pritzker, the University of Illinois System will observe a state holiday on this year’s Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020. In a 2016 survey, the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) ascertained that, of those companies that anticipated offering paid holidays in 2017, the majority intended to observe seven specific federal holidays: New Year’s Day (90%), Memorial Day (93%), the day before Independence Day (13%), Independence Day (93%), Labor Day (94%), Thanksgiving (97%), and Christmas (95%). [citation needed] In January 2019, Sandusky, Ohio became the first city in the country to make Election Day a paid holiday for city employees by eliminating Columbus Day. But why? The ruling settles a question left when lawmakers passed a measure earlier this year that would have required ‘all government offices’ to close on election day. While eligible faculty and staff will receive paid holiday time on Election Day, the University of Illinois System never fully closes and essential operations will continue. In a few states such as Virginia and Illinois, Election Day is a holiday, while in others, like Michigan, Vermont, and Florida, there are no laws requiring time off to vote. That doesn't, however, include any election authorities across the state. California Elections Code Section 14000 provides that employees otherwise unable to vote must be allowed two hours off with pay, at the beginning or end of a shift. This year Sandusky replaced Columbus Day with election day as a paid holiday. To encourage voter turnout, Election Day is a civic holiday in several states, while some other states require that workers be allowed to take time off with pay. Holiday usage and pay policies will apply, as they do for other designated holidays. This Election Day will officially be a holiday in Illinois. However, if your employer doesn’t give you the day off, then he or she must establish shifts allowing employees to go to the polls between 8am and 3pm. Cole said that some employees would have to be paid holiday wages if they work. 2021 Illinois Holidays. Election Day isn't a Federal Reserve holiday. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. ^ President's Day, Good Friday (11am–3pm), Juneteenth Day (June 19), Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Partisan Primary Election Day, and General Election Day are listed as a state holiday in Wisconsin although state offices remain open. Illinois is one of only twelve states in which Election day is a state holiday. But that doesn’t mean everyone in Illinois will get the day off work on Nov. 3. Election Day this year is supposed to be a holiday for public employees in Illinois. In the absence of such a law, multiple states including Virginia, Indiana and Delaware make Election Day in November a paid holiday for state employees. Back To Top . NIU will observe the paid holiday by closing our offices and cancelling classes on Nov. 3. A bill signed Tuesday by Governor Pritzker made a variety of changes to this year’s Election, including the Holiday status that will allow for all government offices, except election authorities, k-12 schools, and post-secondary institutions governed by the State Universities Civil Service Act. Governor JB Pritzker signed a new law in June declaring Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, a state holiday for 2020. ^ Columbus Day is listed as a state holiday in New Hampshire although state offices remain open. Chicago – Oct. 1, 2020 – Centro (https://www.centro.net), a global provider of advertising technology, announced a policy to provide paid time off for employees on Election Day in the U.S. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A bill passed in 2020 makes the General Election an official holiday in Illinois. Illinois remains one of a comparative handful of states where General Election Day is a paid state holiday for workers. Election Day is a holiday in some states. This change is now reflected on the 2020-2021 Academic Calendar and University Holidays … Rhode Island. But why? Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Election Day isn't a national holiday in the US, but some people think it should be. There isn’t a specific law that requires your employer to give you time off to vote. Other businesses will do the same. General Election Day (Biennially) Return Day (2nd day after general election after 12 noon, in Sussex Country only) If a legal holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. Employees who are required to work also may be eligible for paid time off to vote under General Election voting leave policies. One economist says it’s a political power play. With this declaration, most government offices and school teachers will get the day off. General Election Day; Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November) Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Day (December 25) If a paid holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the prior Friday. Holiday usage and pay policies will apply, as they do for other designated holidays. South Carolina If a paid holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. While eligible faculty and staff will receive paid holiday time on Election Day, the University of Illinois System never fully closes and essential operations will continue. This action is a renewal of its commitment started in 2018 when it declared Election Day a holiday that year.       Consider Company Policy . If a legal holiday falls on a Saturday (except for Saturdays), it is observed on the prior Friday. In the years there is an election Illinois also will celebrate General Election Day. **Under legislation signed by Gov. Election Day is a state holiday in 2020 thanks to legislation signed by Gov. The United Auto Workers union has negotiated making Election Day a holiday for workers of U.S. domestic auto manufacturers. Even in the states that do recognize it as a holiday, your bank will probably be open today. Horizon is just one company making Election Day paid time off for employees. According to the Council of State Governments, Illinois is one of 12 states in which Election Day is a state holiday. New Year's Day, 2021 Friday, December 31, 2021 This information was printed from www.cyberdriveillinois.com, the official website of the Illinois Secretary of State's Office. While eligible faculty and staff will receive paid holiday time on Election Day, the University of Illinois System never fully closes, and essential operations will continue. Nov. 3, 2020 – Paid Holiday for Election Day. State data shows it’s costly. Employees who are required to work also may be eligible for paid time off to vote under General Election voting leave policies. The holiday declaration is only for 2020 in order to enhance opportunities to vote and promote voter safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This past week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed legislation to make Election Day a state holiday for employees of all government offices except election authorities and employees in K-12 schools and some post-secondary schools. A Sangamon County judge has ruled local units of government are exempt from a law passed this year declaring the Nov. 3 general election as a state holiday and requiring These include national, state, and local government representatives at … Below you will find a list of the 2020 Illinois state holidays. It is the day when popular ballots are held to select public officials. In 2018, a Pew study found that 65% of Americans favored making Election Day a national holiday. A 2006 report from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission said Illinois established General Election Day as a state holiday in 1943 but could not determine why it was made a holiday. Definitive answers are elusive. Eligible faculty and staff will receive paid holiday time on election day. Public employers. A Sangamon County Judge in Springfield has ruled in favor of the Illinois Municipal League and its member municipalities that will allow them to stay open on election day, November 3rd. After all, in Illinois, Election Day is now an official holiday. The Pew Research Center says 13 states have made election day a holiday : Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and West Virginia. The Prairie State celebrates many of the federal holidays and also pays special tribute to Lincoln by observing his birthday.