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đź’› Three Election Day Email Templates
#38. For before, during, and after the election.

Hello and Happy Thursday!
Well folks, we’re almost to the big day. In less than a week the country will elect its 47th president. How is everyone feeling about it? It’s exciting! It’s nerve-wracking! And it’s bound to be the talk of the office next week.
Regardless of which candidate you’re supporting, you’re likely feeling some anxiety on different levels: Your own anxiety for the outcome of the election and what it might mean for your life, and anxiety for how the outcome will affect your workplace. As a people-person, you might expect these double-decker levels of stress, but that doesn’t make it any easier to manage.
Today our goal is to make your life a bit easier. Below, you’ll find three email templates designed to help you communicate effectively with employees before, during, and after the election. Feel free to tweak them to match your company’s policies and include any additional resources that fit your team’s needs.
One thing you’ll notice in each template: a reminder about available mental health resources. This is a great chance to highlight any underused benefits your employees may not know about or be taking advantage of.
From the edge of my seat
,Jill
P.S. With the holiday season sneaking up on us, we’re hitting pause for a moment of gratitude—and we'd love for you to join in! Take a moment and share something you’re grateful for and we’ll share a round-up in an upcoming newsletter. I’ll go first! I’m grateful for all the new team members (content writers, cohort facilitators, and more) who have joined me in the WTWT vision this year!
Reflect on this...
➙ Is there anything you’re worrying about that’s outside of your control?
âž™ In what ways can you lead by example as election results are announced next week?
âž™ What skills has this election season helped you add to your professional toolkit?
🗳️
If you’re not feeling prepared to manage the impact that the election will have on your workplace, consider utilizing our comprehensive guide - Politics at Work: A Toolkit for Navigating Election Season in the Workplace. We spent months preparing scripts, templates, manager training, and plenty of logistics for you to think through. I’m confident it will ease some of your concerns and help you feel more in control.
Three Email Templates to Ease the Tension
Template #1: Pre-Election Day Email
Encourage Participation + Share Voting Leave Policy
The first template is designed to go out before Election Day. It covers everything from your company’s time-off policy for voting, how employees can request time off or notify their managers, and relevant mental health and voter resources.
Here’s an example from fellow People Ops leader, Marcie Chavez (shared with permissions!), to inspire your own communications:
👋🏻 Hey Team!
With the November election coming up, I just wanted to drop a reminder about your voting rights and encourage everyone to plan ahead, whether you’re voting early, using an absentee ballot, or heading to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. 🗳️
Here’s a quick rundown of our Voting Leave policy:
Most of us work schedules that should allow time to vote either before or after work, or even during a lunch break. However, if your work schedule prevents you from voting, you can request up to [2 hours] of paid time off to vote. ⌛🗳️ (And if you need more, please just let us know. We will work to accommodate!)
Make sure to submit your request at least [2 days] before Election Day! đź“…
We’ll work with you to schedule the time, generally at the beginning or end of your shift. 🕜
Got questions? 🤔 Feel free to reach out to [Point Person] for help!✨
Also, I know that elections can bring up a lot of emotions and stress, so don’t forget to take care of your mental health. You can check out [our partner’s hub] for free support sessions on topics like:
"Navigating relationships & politics: communicating in tough times"
"Processing Stressful World Events"
"Coping in times of Political Uncertainty"
If you have any questions or concerns around voting please reach out.
Best regards,
[Your Name / People Operations Team]
Template #2: Election Day Email
Reinforcing Workplace Policies and Support
Next up - the all-important Election Day Email. This communication plays a key role in setting the tone as election news unfolds. Some employees will be glued to updates, discussing early results, or even streaming the news in the office. Others will prefer to avoid election talk altogether.
Every employee will have different preferences for how (or if) they engage with election conversations. A thoughtfully worded email outlining expectations for respectful behavior can make a world of difference in maintaining a positive workplace environment.
But let’s be real—emails alone won’t cut it. Even the clearest message will fall flat if it’s not backed by leadership and managers. Before sending this out, ensure your leadership team is aligned and ready to model and reinforce these expectations across the organization.
Good Morning Team,
Today is Election Day, and we want to make sure you have the time and support needed to cast your vote and manage the day ahead smoothly.
Time-Off and Flexible Hours for Voting
We encourage all employees to participate in the election. If your schedule makes it difficult to get to the polls, please connect with your manager—up to [2 hours] of paid time off is available to make sure everyone has the opportunity to vote.
Guidelines for Respectful Dialogue
We recognize that elections can spark important discussions, but we also want to maintain a respectful and focused work environment. Here are a few reminders:
Respect Diverse Opinions & Avoid Coercion: Express your views respectfully and listen to others with an open mind. Use phrases like "I understand your perspective, though I see it differently” when speaking with a coworker who holds a different belief than your own.
Keep Discussions Professional & Use Designated Spaces: Political discussions should be conducted in a manner that maintains professionalism and does not disrupt work. Avoid engaging in political discussions during meetings or client calls and keep those conversations in the designated “Politics” Slack space.
Respect Personal Boundaries: Be mindful of colleagues who may prefer not to engage in political discussions. If someone indicates or appears to be uncomfortable, respectfully end the discussion.
Report Concerns: If you experience or witness any behavior that violates our policies, report it to HR or your manager promptly. All reports will be handled confidentially and investigated thoroughly.
Take Care of Yourself Today
We understand that Election Day can bring on extra stress and emotions. If you need a break to recharge, step away, or take a walk, feel free to do so.
[NOTE: This is a great place to include specific mental health resources your company currently provides as additional resources!]
Thank you for your attention and participation today. If you have any questions or need support, we’re here to help.
Best regards,
[Your Name / People Operations Team]
Template #3: Post-Election Day Email
Acknowledging Results and Promoting Unity
Lastly, be prepared to send out an email following the election to recognize the results and set the tone moving forward. As we discussed for the Election Day Email, this type of communication lets employees know what is expected of them during this time and absolutely must be followed up with leadership and manager behaviors.
Hello Team,
Now that Election Day has passed, we recognize that everyone may have different reactions to the results. Whether or not the outcome aligns with your expectations, it’s natural to feel a range of emotions—relief, frustration, joy, or uncertainty.
As we move forward together, we ask that you be kind and respectful to coworkers who may hold different views. It’s more important than ever to support one another, even if we don’t always see things the same way.
Support Resources Available
We care about your well-being and want to remind you about the following resources available to all employees:
[RESOURCE 1]
[RESOURCE 2]
Please take care of yourself and utilize these resources whenever needed. Again, if you need a break to recharge, step away, or take a walk, feel free to do so.
Commitment to Our Values
Regardless of personal beliefs or political views, our core company values unite us and guide how we work together. These values—[e.g., Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation]—serve as our foundation - during difficult and joyous times.
Let’s focus on what brings us together and continue supporting one another as we move forward. Thank you for your dedication and professionalism, today and every day. If you have any questions or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best,
[Your Name / People Operations Team]
While it’s no small feat, proactive and thoughtful communication during election season helps foster a supportive, respectful workplace—not just within individual teams, but across the entire company.
We hope these pre-election, Election Day, and post-election email templates help you set clear expectations, promote well-being, and encourage participation. As mentioned, these expectations only work when backed by leadership and manager actions!
Feel free to adapt the templates to fit your organization’s policies and culture.
The whole team at Want to Work There is cheering you on!
Your Turn
Make a short list of the people at work you can share these messages with in advance, so they can help reinforce them as needed.
Remind yourself that you can’t control what happens in the election or how people feel about it, but you do have some control over how your workplace community responds to it, and focus on that.
A Few More Resources
Want some phrases and tactics to navigate political discussions at work? Here are 4 tips for managers to encourage respectful conversations during the election.
There’s a Ted Talk for everything - including this! Check out How to Talk Politics and Keep Friends by Timothy Dale.
Still feeling anxious? Close your eyes for a few minutes and take a sound bath to help release some negative energy.
Things We're Loving Right Now
Must be the season of the witch. With everything feeling so incredibly heavy, we’ve found ourselves escaping into some great new shows and movies lately - and it seems the theme is witches! Jill is obsessed with Agatha All Along and is in the process of rereading Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe because it was that good the first time around. Kenzie (on our marketing team) recently finished the Throne of Glass series and couldn’t be more obsessed with the thirteen witches in this story. And Debbie (our copywriter extraordinaire) has been in full Wicked hype-mode in preparation for the new movie next month, re-reading the book, watching other Oz-inspired movies (remember Return to Oz?), and learning all the songs in the broadway soundtrack. Tis the season!
Even more inclusivity. While I’m happily a paying member of SafeSpace (an online community where people people can show up to “vent, get real time advice, and meet your new HR bestie”) they recently added a free tier, making it an accessible option for everyone. If you haven’t joined already, now is definitely the time!
From the vault. We’ve been extra focused on building documentation around here lately, having hired Podge Thomas to help us build an operational home base for the Want To Work There team in Notion. I highly recommend soaking in some of Podge’s brilliance by revisiting our podcast episode on building a strong culture of documentation
.
