#SCOTUS holds that Minnesota law banning political apparel at polling places violates the First Amen
Source: SCOTUSblog Twitter account
#SCOTUS holds that Minnesota law banning political apparel at polling places violates the First Amendment.
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Here's a link to #SCOTUS opinion in Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-1435_2co3.pdf
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underpants
(182,830 posts)C_U_L8R
(45,003 posts)How about a megaphone?
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,502 posts)Crutchez_CuiBono
(7,725 posts)to wear threatening stuff and congregate around polling places.
shraby
(21,946 posts)biased words supporting a candidate not campaigning within X number of feet of a polling place?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,735 posts)Javaman
(62,530 posts)repukes aren't very bright, they forget this ruling works both ways.
truthisfreedom
(23,148 posts)former9thward
(32,025 posts)It may be that most, if not all of the 50 states, have similar laws. If so they will be invalidated by the ruling.
truthisfreedom
(23,148 posts)pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,735 posts)the statute was vague and overly broad in its definition of what constituted "political" expression, prohibiting anything that could be perceived as having political implications for a particular election, and the decision about whether something was political was left to the discretion of the election judges. For example, you couldn't wear a t-shirt with a rainbow flag if there was an issue in the election pertaining to gay rights (and the election judge was bothered by it), but you could if there wasn't. I agree with the decision.
The case was reversed and remanded.
LeftInTX
(25,383 posts)I volunteer for campaigns and have to put on sweater if I want to vote.
Fairly benign, but putting on a sweater in South Texas in May after poll greeting in the heat ain't fun.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,735 posts)This opinion dealt only with the vagueness and overbreadth of the Minnesota statute. If the state statute is specific enough and articulates a reasonable reason for prohibiting candidate shirts and buttons, it's probably OK. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-1435_2co3.pdf
LeftInTX
(25,383 posts)Texas' is:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the polling place or within 100 feet of any outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is located.
We spotted a guy wearing a Planned Parenthood tee shirt to the polls...I don't believe there was any issue with his shirt inside the polls.
(As an aside, we asked him, "If you are voting in the Democratic primary...?" He responded, "I'm a Republican" LOL )