An Act to modify the amount of time allowed to an employee to vote at any election in this state.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:
Section 1. That 12-3-5 be AMENDED:
12-3-5.
Any person
entitled to vote at any election held within this state,
including a primary election, shall
is, on the day
of
such
the election,
be
entitled to
be absent
himself
from any service or employment in which
he
the person is
then
engaged or employed for a period of
two
four
consecutive hours between the time of opening and the time of closing
the polls; provided
such
the person does
not have a period of
two
four
consecutive hours during the time the polls are open
during which he
when the person
is not required to be present at
his
the person's
work or place of employment. Such
voter is not, because of so absenting himself,
No person is
liable to any penalty
for being absent from work or the person's place of employment for
the purpose of voting,
nor may any deduction be made
on account of such absence from his
from the person's
usual salary or wages
due to the absence.
The employer may specify the hours
during which such
when an
employee may
be absent
himself
as aforesaid
for the purpose of voting.
An employer who refuses an
employee the privilege conferred by this section or who subjects an
employee to a penalty or reduction of wages because of the exercise
of
such
the privilege
or who directly or indirectly violates this section is guilty of a
Class 2 misdemeanor.