Voters wearing political clothing could be turned away at the polls.

[Digit]

Another thread had mentioned this, and it occurred to me that we don't want any Kerry/Edwards voters prevented from casting their ballot.

Maybe others were aware of this, but I was not.
Then again, you could turn any t-shirt inside out :-)

[Sporadicus]

1. Does That Include Black Hoodies Now? n/t

[cynatnite]

2. I am seriously considering

Wearing a black hoodie Nov. 2 for the entire day.

Maybe I'll get one and wear it non-stop until after the election.

[Proud liberal Kat]

3. I bought one!

LOL it is so silly and my husband has decided that I have finally been driven over the complete edge and holds Bush personally responsible for my fragile mental state! But I like the message from Mosh, I like the rage and the anger that boils over to the point of seeming violent but directed towards direct and civil civic duty, it captures my mood!
Kathy

[Maddy McCall]

6. I don't think it is against the law to dress like LL Cool J.

After all, he's the one who started the fad. (Mama Said Knock YOu Out video).

[skylarmae]

4. This is the first I've heard of this. Tomorrow I go for poll watching

instructions and I'm sure I'll be told then. Wonder what else they will tell me.

[senseandsensibility]

5. Help!

I know nothing about this! My hubby wears a John Kerry T-shirt everywhere and I know he'll want to wear it to the polls! Is this "against the rules?" I never heard this before!:shrug:

[Mizmoon]

7. No campaigning in the polling place itself

Political clothing could be interpreted as campaigning. I think it's a legit rule, we just need to make sure that people know about it.

[senseandsensibility]

15. Thanks

for the heads up.

[Proud liberal Kat]

11. No he can't wear it in full display in the polling place...

but he can wear a black hoodie over it until he is out of the polling place ;-)
Kathy

[senseandsensibility]

17. Yeah

That might send a louder message, actually.:)

[Chiyo-chichi]

8. True. It violates electioneering laws.

At least in my state, it does. I went to vote in '88 & had a Dukakis button on my jacket & was told that I couldn't wear it inside the polling place. I have since looked it up in the state constitution. It's covered under the same law that require political signs to be a certain minimum distance away.

[scarletwoman]

9. It's a longstanding law -- no politicking at polling places.

It's against the law to make overt political statements within 100 feet of a polling place. That includes wearing t-shirts or buttons that promote a particular candidate, or even parking your car within 100 feet if you have candidate bumper stickers on it.

You are really better off if you abide by these rules. It puts you in a much stronger position if you want to call someone from the "other side" on THEIR violations.

sw

[Doohickie]

13. I believe that is the rule in most states

When I early voted here in Fort Worth, Texas, the greeter came to the line outside periodically and announced that political clothing (including, in our county, Texas Cowboys logos, since Arlington residents are voting on a new stadium for them) would not be allowed.

People who had political logos or messages on their clothing had three options: Remove it, turn it inside out, or wear a smock provided by the election officials.

To have anything overtly political is grounds to bar someone from a polling place.

[Sean Reynolds]

10. This happened to my mom and grandma in 2000.

They wore their Gore-Lieberman buttons to the polling place and were told to either take them off or leave. So they took them off, voted..and put them back on.

[marlakay]

12. my husband and I buying black hooded sweatshirts

it will make the point as we don't exactly look like hoods!! gramma and grandpa!! he he

[bleedingheart]

14. The key is to wear a coat over your shirt or buttons...then take it off

after you exit the polls...I have done this a million times...there isn't a problem...

[Doohickie]

18. Right. It's not whether you wear political clothing or other signs,

it's whether the logos/messages are displayed. Wearing a coat over them is perfectly acceptable (except that here in Texas the weather is still too warm!)

[Virginian]

16. TRUE!

I went to election officer training today and was told we are not to allow any buttons, T-shirts or anything that is for or against a candidate or party. One of the other people there said that she even made a voter take off elephant or donkey earrings.

Don't risk the Republicans challenging you. Go to the polls in neutral attire. Do not talk politics on your cell phone while you are inside the voting room.

This is no time to express your political views in your attire. Your vote is too important.

Find out what else is on your ballot before you get in the voting booth so that you can vote quickly and not hold up the lines.

Come prepared to wait. Bring a book if necessary. The lines will be long and slow.

IF YOU ARE IN LINE WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE, STAY IN LINE! DO NOT LEAVE! Anyone in line at closing time gets to vote. Stick it out. This is too important!

If you try to vote early and the line is so long you fear you might be late to work, come back later. If you have already checked in, tell an election officer so they can let you vote when you come back. You can only check in once.

[Digit]

19. Pass this on to your friends. Dem, friends that is.

I would not put it past "some" to just turn K/E supporters away without suggesting turning shirts inside out, or providing a smock.

[Virginian]

20. We don't provide smocks.

We have to be fair to both sides. If a Repub poll watcher sees any favortism, there will be lawsuits against us workers for sure. I can't afford that.
It is going to be a really long, stressful day. We are practically volunteers. Please don't make it any harder on us. Remember, the lines may have gone faster if you also had volunteered to work at the polls.
You can still do your part by helping outside the polls, making sure the voters know who and what to vote for. We have bond issues that take the voter a long time to read in the booth. Explain those to the voter, too so they already know how they are voting when they get to the booth. That would do a great deal to speed things up. Remind them there is no politicking indoors, that includes printed T-shirts and campaign buttons.