Voter Turnout Linked to Workplace Civic Engagement

It's a daunting task to boost voter turnout in the United States, where millions of eligible citizens choose not to participate in elections. Despite massive investments by campaigns and political action committees (PACs) in advertising and canvassing efforts, these initiatives often yield minimal results.

A groundbreaking study has shed new light on what drives voter participation, revealing that a person's workplace plays a significant role in their decision to cast a ballot. By linking employment records from LinkedIn with voter files, researchers were able to analyze the voting habits of 30 million workers across 377,000 employers.

The findings suggest that employees are more likely to vote if they work for an employer with a strong track record of civic engagement. For instance, workers who transferred to a higher-scoring employer became significantly more likely to participate in elections.

These results were obtained by tracking the voting habits of individuals who changed jobs, which helped researchers account for potential biases related to employee selection. The data showed that employees who moved from an underperforming employer to a better one became 3.5 percentage points more likely to vote.

The study's conclusions are striking: employers have a profound influence on their employees' voting habits. This is not surprising, given the significant amount of time people spend at work and the impact that workplace culture can have on individual behavior.

Employers can play a crucial role in promoting civic engagement by reminding employees about upcoming elections and emphasizing the importance of democratic participation. By doing so, they can also mitigate factors that might discourage voting, such as inflexible scheduling or leave policies around Election Day.

Companies that fail to encourage employee voting may be unwittingly hindering civic engagement among their workers.

To rectify this situation, corporate leaders should take an active interest in voter turnout within their organizations and strive to improve their company's standing on this metric.

At Weyco, a straightforward communications plan is employed to facilitate employee participation in the electoral process. Several weeks prior to an election, employees are nudged to make arrangements for voting, with reminders issued when early voting becomes available and again closer to Election Day itself.

In addition to these measures, Weyco also offers paid leave for employees who wish to vote or serve as poll workers, while providing transportation assistance for those in need. Furthermore, the company brings voter registration services directly into its premises.

Similarly, Goodmans has partnered with Power the Polls to recruit employees as poll workers, offering a modest stipend and an extra day off for those who participate.

Giving employees time to vote and reminding them when to do so can be a straightforward process for most employers. It involves sending out emails and adjusting schedules as needed, without requiring any significant effort or resources. This simple approach can make a tangible difference in voter turnout, particularly among those who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to cast their ballots.

The challenge of recruiting poll workers is another pressing issue that employers can help address. According to data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, nearly half of local election jurisdictions struggled to find sufficient staff for the 2024 general election. This year, several major jurisdictions, including Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Maricopa County, are facing similar shortages.

The decision to speak out on politics can be a contentious one in corporate America, but helping employees participate in democracy doesn't require taking sides or making public statements. Employers can support their workers' right to vote without asking about their personal views or affiliations. This approach sidesteps the risk of sparking controversy and allows employers to focus on facilitating civic engagement.

Research suggests that voting is a habit-forming activity, with employees more likely to continue participating in elections even after leaving their current employer. Moreover, employees who vote tend to influence their households, including family members, which can have a ripple effect on voter turnout. This phenomenon underscores the potential for employers to have a lasting impact on civic engagement.

Employers' efforts to promote voting can yield benefits that extend beyond election day, particularly in primaries where increased turnout can make a significant difference. Studies indicate that employees at higher-scoring employers are more likely to vote in primaries, which in turn can lead to higher voter participation rates among their households and communities.

Encouraging employees to vote is a morally sound decision, but it also has long-term benefits for businesses. By fostering trust in the democratic system, employers can create a stable environment that enables them to plan ahead, invest in their operations, and expand their workforce.

Employers already wield significant influence over voter participation rates. With minimal effort, they can utilize this power to promote civic engagement and contribute positively to society.