Is it true that you can't wear an Obama T Shirt to the polls to vote?

[julialnyc]

Someone at my office was telling me that

[Mike 03]

1. It may depend on the state. Here in AZ we can't, which I think is ridiculous.

It is considered "electioneering."

[Wizard777]

43. That's based on voters being mindless zombies that will vote for the last name they see or hear.

Advertizers will swear to it. Just like hearing a bell will trigger an impulse buy. They'll swear to that one too.

[dbmk]

57. I think its fair enough.

Everyone should be able to vote without being pressured ot otherwise (externally) influenced in the moment.

One shirt might seem like a problem. But if there is 1999 McCain shirts around you in your Obama shirt - or vice versa - I'd say it was fair to say that we might have one.

I think its a good rule to say that the polling place is free of any kind of propaganda/electioneering. Otherwise you would have a mess of a "where to draw the line"-business.

[NMDemDist2]

2. depends on the state

have something to cover it just in case

[Midlodemocrat]

3. You can't wear anything that would indicate your choice.

It's considered electioneering in some areas. Just to be safe, don't do it. Wear a jacket over your shirt.

[TransitJohn]

4. I'm pretty sure

the 1st Amendment still applies in polling places.

[Midlodemocrat]

10. No. You're wrong. You can't wear anything that indicates

your choice of candidate. If you do and refuse to cover it up, you can forfeit your right to vote.

Don't do it.

[TransitJohn]

21. Uh no, I'm not.

Sounds like my statement would be incorrect in certain states, though.

[Erin Elizabeth]

15. No, no, no. Electioneering.

Undue influence. Don't do it!

[EFerrari]

39. Most places have a rule about electioneering within so many feet of the polls.

[TransitJohn]

47. Do some states

consider expressing your personal opinion electioneering? I thought you had to be trying to influence someone's vote for it to be electioneering.

[HughMoran]

42. No, it doesn't

...and for good reason - I've seen people nearly go to blows over the stupidest things on election day. No intimidation of any sort should be allowed in the polling station.

[TransitJohn]

48. Wearing a tshirt is hardly intimidation

or electioneering. Trying to influence someone else's vote would be electioneering, though.

[dbmk]

59. One might not be. But thats not the point.

[ShortnFiery]

5. YES! In many states, like mine (VA) you can't wear any campaigning material to vote. Don't wear

anything that you can't take off ... and still be modest. :blush:

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Or campaign buttons in most states

Just wear a shirt with the Obama blue

[Higher Standard]

7. You can in Wisconsin

You can wear buttons, shirts, etc. as long as you are coming in to vote and don't linger afterwards.

[geekgrrl]

55. Nope.

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/312612

"5. Don't campaign: The line isn't the place to show your political colors -- by wearing a shirt, hat, buttons, etc. If a voter is electioneering or causing a ruckus in line, the chief election inspector can ask you to leave."

[Dennis Donovan]

Wear a sweater over it...

...and flash people on the way out.;)

[Mike 03]

8. This post probably ought to be kicked in case people don't know.

We don't want anybody getting turned away from voting.

KICK

[Atman]

Actually, it should be pinned with a big bold headline

It seems a lot of people don't realize this.

.

[Mike 03]

19. I didn't know this until about two weeks ago.

I knew you couldn't "electioneer" near a poll, but I didn't you couldn't wear a lapel pin.

[crispini]

9. don't do it - it's electioneering in my state and in many others

[casus belli]

14. ^^^^ Agree. Best not to take a chance in this climate. n/t

[Atman]

11. DO NOT WEAR POLITICAL GEAR TO THE POLLS.

It is illegal almost everywhere. It's called "electioneering." Don't risk waiting in line for three hours just to have some poll worker send you home to change your clothes.

.

[Erin Elizabeth]

12. Don't wear anything like that to go vote.

They'll make you cover it up or go change. One year I totally forgot I was wearing an Aggie Democrats shirt. I was only going to vote on a local bond issue, that's all there was on the ballot, but the guy made me wear his leather jacket and cover it up.

You can't be wearing buttons, either. Nothing like that. Leave the political stuff at home when you go vote. Even leafletters have to stay a certain number of feet from the polls.

[sufrommich]

13. In Michigan you can't. nt

[ellacott]

16. It's not allowed in my state

I'm in Ohio and they had signs posted during the primaries. Our news stations have been very good at letting people know of this new rule.

[GOPNotForMe]

17. in FLorida you can

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

18. Best not to!

As much as I'd like to wear my gear to a polling place, the reason behind many bans is to prevent face-to-face unpleasantness from erupting, which could just as easily turn into (or be interpreted as) voter intimidation.

An across-the-board ban prevents any one majority from taking over a polling place. Put yourself in the opposition's shoes.

[Doityourself]

20. I wore my Obama shirt in the Primaries and will be wearing Obama gear tomorrow...

NJ doesn't seem to care...lol

Will take a jacket anyway, but I don't think it applies here.

[Ian David]

22. Depends on the state, but play it safe. BRING A JACKET. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

23. Depends on the state. Play it safe and leave the O shirt at home, or at least under a sweater.

[stray cat]

24. Play it save - no political advertising at poll or they may not let you vote

includes caps and tshirts and buttons

[SmokingJacket]

25. Yes, it is true.

If you're in NY, you can't wear campaign gear to the polls. It's considered campaigning, and polling places are campaign-free zones. You can take off your button or cover your tee-shirt, though.

We election workers can't even park outside if we have Obama bumper stickers!

[hedgehog]

28. Is that new for New York? My attitude is that wih all the confusion,

there will be poll workers insisting that it's the law in states that don't have such a law, but why get into a stupid argument on such an important day? Wear blue and everyone's happy!

[SmokingJacket]

51. We had a long discussion about it at our poll-worker meeting.

Should we direct people to the bathroom so they could turn their shirt inside out? Eh.

The impression I got is that people ought not to wear the stuff, but that voting is more important. No one said anything about turning people away.

Nonetheless there will be stickler poll workers around, so you'd best just follow the rules...

[hedgehog]

52. Why hand a stick to the occasional little dictator out there?

Just wear blue instead!

[TechBear_Seattle]

26. Every state prohibits electioneering at or in the immediate vicinity of a polling place

And with damned good reason. You wouldn't want to have to run a gauntlet of loud, agressive McCain supporters on your way to your polling place, right?

Generally speaking, "electioneering" is defined as any overt promotion of a candidate or measure appearing on the ballot. That includes signs, pamphlets, buttons and shirts. The "immediate vicinity" limit is a matter of state law, but is typically somewhere between 250 feet and 500 feet from the door leading directly into the polling place.

[Jersey Devil]

35. I disagree

I don't think a voter who wears a button or shirt and does not otherwise engage in convincing others to vote for a candidate is "electioneering" unless he/she is hanging out at the polls rather then going in, voting and leaving.

I even had a Repub object to the bumper sticker on my car once. The laws, though well intentioned, can lead to absurdities if taken too far.

[TechBear_Seattle]

45. In many states, shirts and buttons are considered electioneering

In Washington, the poll workers are supposed to ask you to remove or cover up buttons or shirts which mention a ballot measure or candidate on the current ballot. I cannot, for example, wear a 2000 "Vote Nader" shirt because Nader is on the ballot as an independent candidate for President; I could probably get away with a 2000 "Vote Gore" shirt because Gore is not on the ballot. A button or shirt that says, "I am a Democrat" or even "I vote Democrat" would probably pass muster; one that read "Vote Democrat" probably would not.

It all depends on local and state law, and how thoroughly the poll workers observe the law.

[shifting_sands]

27. You couldn't in Colorado

Put a sweater or jacket over it, in Colorado and several surrounding states if you wore any thing of any candidate, shirts, pins etc your vote would be discounted. I know of several other states just like that beside Colorado, you could in the Primaries but not the general election, check with your state or just don't take the chance

[jumptheshadow]

29. You Can't in NY

>>Don't wear your favorite Barack Obama T-shirt or your shiny John McCain campaign button Nov. 4: You might get hassled at the polls.

An obscure, seldom-enforced state law bars anyone from wearing political buttons and other campaign paraphernalia within "a 100-foot radial measured from the entrances of the voting booth."<<

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nycity-news-service/no-obama-tees-obscure-law_b_129177.html

[Lugnut]

30. To be safe don't wear one or

Wear a sweater or jacket over your shirt.

[Clio the Leo]

31. Or HIDE it really well like I'm gonna do. NT

[nosillies]

32. Just wear head to toe blue! n/t

[Jersey Devil]

33. It could cause a commotion but does not violate the law

Most state laws provide that you cannot 'campaign' or 'electioneer' at a polling place or within so many feet of a polling place. Wearing a button or a shirt, hat, etc., is not campaigning but many local election officials may object, claiming it is. What these laws are really meant to prevent are instances of candidates or their supporters urging voters to vote for their candidate, not voters simply wearing their candidate's colors when voting.

I once even had a Republican object to my parking my car within 100 feet of a polling place because I had a Democratic candidate's bumper sticker on it. I told him to stuff it.

[secondwind]

34. don't take the chance! (Or wear it covered up)

[rucky]

36. Assume that it is illegal.

Unless you know for sure that it's not in your state.

[demokatgurrl]

37. NO! In some states you can be asked to cover them

but you CAN wear them to the polls. At least, according to a flyer left on our door by the Obama campaign and an e-mail from Al Gore this morning.

[union_maid]

38. Since I was a little kid...

there were "No Electioneering Within (x) feet of Polling Place" signs wherever you went to vote in NY. I remember asking my father about what it meant. It's just best to play it safe and not wear anything that advertises for a candidate.

[Uzybone]

40. Dont wear the shirt

just vote.

[qanda]

41. Why risk it? Just wear your normal clothes to the polls

And throw on your Obama gear after you're finished.

[CADEMOCRAT7]

44. CA we can not . It is considered electioneering. People have been sent away for wearing Obama shirts

And, we are blue here in the Bay. I would not chance it, or bring a jacket to cover it up if you have to.

[maddowfan]

46. Wear Blue, Don't Get Turned Away

or else!

[JPZenger]

49. PA: Up to Each County, Most Counties Don't care

In Pennsylvania, it is up to each county. Most counties have said they will not force a voter to cover or change their shirt. The one exception that I know of is Monroe County, PA.

[Lumpsum]

53. Yeah, this is true.

Gleason wanted a state-wide ban on electioneering, but Ed Rendell basically told him to fuck off.

Still, some counties do enforce it, as unconstitutional as it is.

You're all just better off going in regular street clothes without any pins or anything.

[JPZenger]

50. Volunteers - Bring a Jacket so Voters Can Cover Up Shirts

In states where this rule is in effect, volunteers should bring an XL jacket or sweatshirt with them, to loan to a voter who is ordered to cover up an Obama shirt.

[cottonseed]

54. It can be considered electioneering. Wear a jacket and cover up before voting.

Then you can open it up and let the world know after you vote.

[Maeve]

56. You can't in Ohio, so cover it up before you go to vote

within 100 yards of the polling place, it's electioneering and illegal, so leave the partisan stuff in your car or at home

[progressivebydesign]

58. The best bet in ANY state is to not wear any political attire to the polls.

Why risk it? If someone does that, they'll have to go out to their car and turn their shirt inside out. If there are long lines to vote, do you really want to be turned back.. just in case?

There is no point in wearing political attire to vote, anyway. There are very few people that would change their vote just because someone wore an Obama t-shirt next to them in line -- I think the power of influence it that way, has passed. BEtter safe than sorry.. or bring a sweater or jacket to wear when you get in line, and keep it on until you're away from the polling place.

Better safe than sorry.

[Ganja Ninja]

60. Don't screw this up by giving them an excuse to keep you from voting.

An Obama t-shirt isn't going to change anyone's mind while standing in line waiting to vote. Cover it or leave it at home.

[Phoonzang]

61. Just don't. You're going to vote for Obama, what's the point of wearing an Obama T-shirt?

Better safe than sorry.

[noonwitch]

62. You can't wear an Obama (or McCain) shirt in Michigan, but you can wear a Springsteen one!

that should make your preference guessable, if nothing else.