After almost two years of campaigns, election day is upon us. I personally have been very excited about the level of participation in the American political process for this Presidential election.

That being said, we have a few tips for our local (and small) businesses for tomorrow's election day:

Be sure that you (and your employees) have time to vote. Colorado Election Code (section 1-7-102) stipulates that employees who do not have three consecutive hours (during polling times) before or after their shift to vote can have up to two hours paid leave during their shift to vote on election day. For small businesses with small staff, this can pose a challenge. Here are a few tips for making it easier:

• If you haven't already, make sure every person is scheduled to go vote, and has the information about their polling place. 
• Carpool to the voting location to save gas and make parking easier for everyone
• If need be, close your store for a couple of hours in the afternoon (like 2-4pm) so that you and your employees can vote without stress. Put up a sign in your store that says, "We've gone to vote and will return at __. Happy Election Day!"

The election will definitely be on everyone's mind tomorrow. Run a playful promotion tied to our civic rights and democratic process. Whoever we vote for, this is an opportunity to strengthen our experience of community. With that in mind, here are a few other ideas for all of us:

• Double check with friends and neighbors to be sure everyone votes. Know someone with kids? Or have an elderly neighbor who can't drive? Offer what help you can, whether it's a ride or a couple of hours of babysitting.
• Buy a to-go container of coffee from your local coffee shop and take it with you to the polls to share with others in line. (Coffee shops such as Cafe Europa and Studio 6 Coffee (on Santa Fe Dr.) have those nifty cardboard to-go containers to make it easy)
• And finally, maintain a sense of humor. Remember that, whatever our political affiliations, tomorrow's vote is an opportunity for every citizen to have a part in selecting our next President, and that everyone who participates is worthy of appreciation, respect, and a little compassion tomorrow.

Good luck tomorrow, and happy election day!