H.R.882: Time Off to Vote Act

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 30, 2019

Time Off to Vote Act

This bill entitles an employee to two hours of paid leave on the day of a federal election in order to vote.

The employer may determine the two-hour period, excluding any lunch break or other break.

Taking such leave shall not result in the employee losing accrued employment benefits.

The bill makes it unlawful for an employer to interfere with the right to take such leave or for an employer to discriminate against an employee for taking such leave.

The bill makes it unlawful for any employer to retaliate against an employee for (1) opposing any practice made unlawful by this bill; (2) filing a charge, or instituting or causing to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this bill; or (3) testifying or preparing to testify in an inquiry or proceeding relating to such leave.

The bill specifies penalties for employers who violate these provisions.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] · D–PA

Committees

Education and Workforce Committee

32 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 30, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Jan 30, 2019
Introduced in House
Jan 30, 2019
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 30, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 3038 · Time Off to Vote Act

Source last updated: Jul 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.882 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.882, 116th Congress: Time Off to Vote Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/882

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-01-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr882/BILLS-116hr882ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.882 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.882 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.882, 116th Congress: Time Off to Vote Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/882

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-01-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr882/BILLS-116hr882ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.882 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.882 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.882, 116th Congress: Time Off to Vote Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/882

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-01-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr882/BILLS-116hr882ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.882 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.882 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.882, 116th Congress: Time Off to Vote Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/882

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-01-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr882/BILLS-116hr882ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.882 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.