Federal Judge Rules Connecticut Voters Can Wear WWE Garb to Polls

[The Northerner]

HARTFORD, Conn. — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Connecticut's top election official to allow voters to wear World Wrestling Entertainment garb to the polls, ruling that it could not be considered political advertising for Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon, the company's former CEO.

U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton issued a stipulated order requiring Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz not to apply state election laws that restrict political advertising within 75 feet of polling places to the wrestling fans who wear WWE clothing, paraphernalia or merchandise on Tuesday.

Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWE and Linda McMahon's husband, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to stop local election workers from asking WWE fans to cover up their wrestling apparel at the polls.

He accused Bysiewicz, a Democrat, of violating voters' free speech rights when her spokesman said such items could be construed as political given Linda McMahon's candidacy.

But Bysiewicz has said her office's position had been misunderstood. She issued a memo to local registrars of voters clarifying how only clothing or other items that solicit for or against a candidate or ballot question should be prohibited.

State election law prevents political advertising within 75 feet of the polls. Arterton said in her ruling that any clothing, paraphernalia or merchandise that actually bears the name, likeness or campaign logo of any candidate will still be restricted.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/27/linda-mcmahon-connecticut-senate-election_n_774908.html

[derby378]

1. I'd love to see how that played in Texas

Down here, a judge ruled the opposite - election judges could block the wearing of Dallas Cowboys gear because the stars on such clothing could be interpreted as polical sloganeering.

[Bitwit1234]

2. It is political and it is electioneering no way around it.

I don't understand the judge. So if a Democrat was involved in a business could they wear a Tshirt that said that and did not mention the person's name. I bet they wouldn't allow it.