Five things to know about voting in Solano County
You're allowed to take paid time off from work to vote, and as long as you're in line before 8 p.m. you can cast a ballot.
(Stock image)
You probably don’t need another reminder to vote today, but if you haven’t already done so, it’s not too late — polls are still open, and there’s still plenty of time to cast a ballot. Click or tap here to find your local polling place.
Here are five things to know about voting in Solano County and the State of California:
1. As long as you’re in line, you can vote
Polling places officially close at 8 p.m. local time, but if you’re in line to vote before then, you will still be allowed to cast a ballot.
“Voters who are in line at the polling place at the time polls close are entitled to vote and must be allowed to exercise that right,” the California Secretary of State’s Office says.
2. You can request a provisional ballot
Individuals who are not on official voter registration lists but nonetheless believe they are registered and have the right to vote may ask for a provisional ballot. Poll workers are supposed to provide instructions to those casting a provisional ballot to find out if their ballot was counted.
Anyone who is not registered to vote can conditionally register on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot at any polling place.
3. There are certain things you can and can’t do at a polling place
You are allowed to:
Take a selfie with your ballot and share it on social media, as long as you’re not disrupting the voting process or otherwise violating any other California law. Poll workers are allowed to exercise limits on ballot selfies.
Observe the election process. This includes the set-up and take-down of voting equipment, and watching the voting process as long as it doesn’t interfere with a person’s right to vote.
Use your smartphone or tablet while you’re standing in line or even casting your ballot, as long as you are not violating other state laws in doing so. Making a quick phone call to see what your kids want for dinner is OK, but filming or taking pictures of a polling place with the goal of intimidating or harassing others is illegal.
Campaign for a political position, initiative or candidate, but you must stay at least 100 feet away from a polling place to do so.
You are not allowed to:
Intimidate or harass anyone who is exercising their right to vote. You also cannot coerce people to switch their vote or ask voters personal questions.
Campaign for a political position, initiative or candidate within 100 feet of a polling place.
Wear apparel, badges, buttons, pins or stickers — or anything else — that advocates for a political position, initiative or candidate while at a polling place.
4. Ballots mailed today may be counted — but they also may not
In order for a mail-in ballot to be counted, it must be postmarked by November 3, 2020. Mail-in ballots that are postmarked after November 3, 2020 will not be counted.
Those who have not yet mailed in their ballot are gambling with how responsive the postal service may be on Tuesday. If a ballot is placed in the mail after the mailbox has been collected for the day, there’s a strong chance it will not be postmarked before the deadline.
For this reason, people who have yet to mail in their ballots are encouraged to drop them off at a polling place instead.
5. You’re entitled to time off from work to vote
Every employer is required to provide notice to workers that they are entitled to time off to vote on Election Day.
“Employees are eligible for paid time off for the purpose of voting only if they do not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote,” the Secretary of State’s Office says. “The intent of the law is to provide an opportunity to vote to workers who would not be able to do so because of their jobs.”
Employees are allowed as much time off as they need to vote, provided they give their employers advanced notice if required. The law provides for up to two hours of paid time off to vote if employees would be otherwise scheduled to work when the polls are normally open.
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