Should I park my democratic bumper sticker laden van at my CA precinct?

[Webster Green]

I can park it 100 feet away from the entrance to the polling place, which is what the regulations require, and it will still be in view of all the voters who enter.

I have a Democratic Underground sticker, and stickers for Boxer and Brown, as well as a couple of other lefty leaning stickers, including "Jesus Is Coming, Look Busy" (George Carlin).

The van will be there all day, as I am in charge of the precinct.

Does this violate the spirit of the law? Should I hide my van? I have a 100 foot tape measure, and feel inclined to use it, and park the thing as close as allowed.

It's kind of up to me to enforce this kind of shit at my precinct, so I'm asking for DU advice. :smoke:

[sweetapogee]

1. you should

park your vehicle anywhere you so desire as long as it is legal to do so. Just make sure you don't have any countraband in it.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. parking it exactly 100 feet away may violate the spirit of the law

but the law is not intended to make you hide it either


Park beyond the limit but only by a reasonable amount

[Thegonagle]

3. I'd say park it around the corner. You need to maintain an air of objectivity

at a polling place. You don't want it to be obvious to anyone that it's a poll worker's vehicle. If someone complains, it might not be pretty. You might not be violating any laws, but it's still not the best idea. Election officials need to leave their personal politics at home (or parked just around the corner, perhaps in a conspicuous location, just not so damn close) on election day.

My mother works in a high position behind the scenes in the elections division of the Secretary of State's office in "clean elections" Minnesota (she's on the top level of the union scale--only way to have a higher position in that office is as a political appointee). She's a liberal herself, but is committed to fairness and objectivity in the entire process, for voters and candidates. She leaves her politics at home, and expects the same from everybody else involved in the technical process of polling and counting the votes. To do as you propose would be walking too close to the line, IMO. Don't do it. Park your van around the corner.

[Webster Green]

4. Thanks for the advice.

Makes sense.

[Mister Ed]

5. Yes. Thank you. n/t

[LiberalFighter]

6. Agreed

[MineralMan]

7. You could, but I doubt it would influence anyone.

It might get keyed, though. Personally, I wouldn't do it, especially if I was working at the precinct.

[Gaedel]

8. If you weren't a worker

If you were a partisan poll watcher or if you were "pushing the product" outside of the limits, go ahead.


In your position, it would be unethical if you have to enforce the law. Park away from the area (save the close in parking for the voters).

[JoDog]

9. Put it across the street,

around the corner, or in the far corner of the parking lot. I will have a similar problem on Tuesday. My precinct voting place is housed in a church (yeah, I know), with 2 parking lots--a front or main lot and an extra lot in the back. Our precinct judges use the back lot to make sure we don't violate the 100 foot rule. This also ensures that the closest parking spots are available for any disabled or senior voters who need them.

[HopeHoops]

10. I'm working at the polls also, but only for a few hours. My van will be out there with its stickers

There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. As long as you are professional and non-partisan while administering your official duties then you are not in violation of any law either by letter or by spirit. The van can just have its own opinion during that time period.