Employers Must Give Time to Vote

Voters who are unable to cast their ballot on Tuesday’s Election Day because they are working may take up to two hours, without loss of pay, during their work day to vote. The law, under California Elections Code section 14000, was enacted to give every Californian their fundamental right to vote, Secretary of State Alex Padilla stated. Polls are open countywide from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.

A Voter Bill of Rights lists the sometimes confusing issues that can arise around voting, such as who can vote, what to do about a botched ballot smear, voting if in line when the polls close (it’s allowed), and other procedural questions. Registered voters may vote at any county polling booth, even if their name is not on the poll location’s list; they would use a provisional ballot, and their eligibility is verified by elections officials. A vote made by mistake can be corrected by completing a new ballot; the old one must be turned in and a new one obtained from officials. Qualified voters are those 18 years or older, a U.S. citizen residing in California, registered to vote where currently living, and not in prison or on parole. More can be learned at the California Secretary of State website in multiple languages.

As well as the county’s polling place website, voters can find their polling booth at the State of California’s site. Information on the 17 propositions appear at the Secretary of State’s website and in the Voter Guide mailed to every registered voter. A smartphone app developed by the state provides similar information.

Election-related questions and confidential reports of election fraud or voter intimidation, said Padilla, can be phoned to his office in English at (800) 345-8683 and in Spanish at (800) 232-8682.