Law requires employers to let staff vote on Election Day

The number of early voters skyrocketed, and if your ballot was not apart of the thousands cast, don’t fret.

You have a legal right to head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6 on Election Day.

“So it’s section 276 of the code,” said Lisa Wise with the El Paso County Elections Department. “Basically what it says that you cannot be kept from going to vote and that you cannot be threatened if you are taking time during the day to go vote.”

But that doesn’t mean you can take the whole day: You’re limited to two hours, and should ideally be using time before and after work.

“Say you get off at 5 p.m. and the polls are open till 7 p.m., then there’s some wiggle room in there,” said Wise.

In order to ensure a smooth voting process, Wise said, as required by law, the elections department has been making sure voting machines, ballots and the entire voting process would function without errors.

Additionally, she said the department has rovers who rotate between four and six locations.

“They go place to place checking in on machines, checking on supplies, checking on any issues anyone has,” Wise said.

Before you head to the polls make sure you have one of the acceptable forms of identification, or supporting documents, and avoid wearing anything with a political affiliation, joke or not.

“We want the experience to be pleasant,” said Wise. “We don’t want anybody to be arguing are promoting or or a posing things online that’s not what that’s for.”