My (20f) boss (65m) refuses who let me vote?

In a bustling restaurant, a 20-year-old woman juggled long shifts to keep a roof over her head, dreaming of casting her first vote in a polling booth. But her 65-year-old boss threw a wrench in her plans, scheduling her for a grueling Election Day shift with no break and threatening her job if she voted for the “wrong” candidate. His demand for proof of her ballot was the final straw. Undeterred, she found a way to protect her voice and her future.

This isn’t just about one vote; it’s about standing up to workplace intimidation and claiming a fundamental right. Readers might feel the weight of her struggle and cheer her quiet victory. As she navigates survival and civic duty, this story asks: how do you hold your ground when power tries to silence you?

‘My (20f) boss (65m) refuses who let me vote?’

I work for a restaurant. I’ve been working there for over a year. I’m not in school (I dropped out before I graduated) but I’m trying to get a GED. This job is what I need to survive. I don’t have a strong family so it’s all on me. I live alone. Recently I’ve been asking for more hours because I’m barely affording rent.

If I didn’t get free food at work I would be starving. A few months ago my boss asked who I was voting for I told him not thinking about it. I also told him I was excited to vote for the first time in November. I want to go in person and make it a memory. Today however I got my work schedule. It was the normal 3 hours one day 5 hours another.

But on the 4th and 5th I’m scheduled for a close open. Something that I’ve been asking for. But it’s on election day. I asked my boss when was my break on the day because I really wanted to vote. My polling place isn’t far and I can do it on my break. But he told me that I don’t get a break this day. That I have to work the full day.

I know I can vote before but I really wanted to go to a booth. Also tho my coworker who has worked at the restaurant for years said that if we vote for someone our boss doesn’t like we would lose hours so he wants proof of the ballot. I told him I have the right to vote and he said that he has to right to fire me.

I really want to vote but I don't want to lose my job? Thanks for the advice. I honestly had no idea that I could vote early in person. I went the other day with my uncle. Also someone gave me a link to places hiring high school drop outs. I put in a application and I have an interview next Thursday.

The boss’s actions—denying a voting break, threatening job loss, and demanding ballot proof—are not just unethical but illegal in many jurisdictions. Most U.S. states mandate voting leave, often paid, for employees without sufficient non-work hours to vote, and federal law protects ballot privacy under the Voting Rights Act.

His behavior reflects a power imbalance, exploiting the worker’s financial vulnerability to suppress her rights. Her decision to vote early and seek new employment shows resilience, but the ordeal highlights a broader issue: workplace coercion in civic participation.

Dr. Ellen Bravo, a workplace rights expert, notes, “Employers who intimidate workers over voting violate democratic principles and labor laws, creating a chilling effect” (source: Ms. Magazine, 2020). The worker’s proactive steps—voting early and applying for a new job—were smart, but she could also report the boss to her state’s labor board or election officials, documenting his threats for potential legal action. Workers in similar situations should check state voting leave laws and consult HR or legal aid for support.

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Reddit’s advice is as fiery as a kitchen rush! From urging early voting to slamming the boss’s illegal demands, the community rallies behind the worker’s fight. Check out their takes below—do they serve up solutions, or just spice up the drama?

Sad-Imagination-4870 − Vote early. The experience is the same. Also, it’s best not to wait until last minute if you can help it because so many things can happen. Good luck!. Edit: also never talk about politics at work unless politics is your work. No good comes of it.

WhoMD85 − Your boss is breaking the law.. First, most states require employers to allow time to [vote]. Second, most states have [mandatory meal break laws] Third, who you voted for is not public information and they cannot make you tell who you voted for. [Ballots are confidential]

SufficientComedian6 − Vote early. You still get a sticker. It’s better to be sure and vote early than end up not going at all. Don’t tell your boss you voted! You can pretend to be sad about not getting a break to go on the day. There’s nothing wrong with protecting your ability to pay rent.

CanadianJediCouncil − **VOTE BEFORE.**. **Do not let this garbage person steal your democratic voice from you.**. And the “you have to show him your ballot” is BS—this guy should be reported to someone.

DocSternau − Vote early and don't tell your boss. Look for a new job in the long run.

GemGlamourNGlitter − just vote early. the experience is the same. the election is too important to worry about not voting on actual election day.

lovinglifeatmyage − Just go vote early and not tell him you did so. It’s always best to go early anyway, less chance of s**t happening to stop you getting there. Grit your teeth and let the p**ck think he’s got one up on you. It’s more important you pay your rent and fill your belly. People like your boss are disgraceful. And stop talking about politics at work, as you’ve discovered, it can be divisive

NoArtichoke6319 − Just vote early. Avoid all the hassle. And never talk politics at work.. He doesn’t even have the right to ask who you voted for. Many people keep that to themselves.

[Reddit User] − Gotta love CA it’s a state law that requires companies to give you time off to vote.

N0ra_R0ra − 1. At work, do not speak about politics. 2. Surely he legally needs t give you a break over a certain number of hours??. 3. Why is this in r/relationship_advice lol

These comments dish out practical tips and righteous anger, but do they fuel her next steps? One thing’s clear: no boss should dim a voter’s spark.

This tale is a reminder that rights are worth fighting for, even when the odds feel stacked. The young worker’s clever move to vote early and plan her exit shows grit in the face of intimidation. Her story isn’t over, but her vote is counted, and her future looks brighter. Have you ever had to outsmart a boss to protect your rights? How did you claim your power? Drop your stories below—let’s keep the fire burning!

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