Voter dress codes? GOP says YES.

[ColbertWatcher]

To the GOP, the lack of rules could open the door to all kinds of questionable displays — even, one Republican leader suggested, something as outlandish as a musical hat.

To the Democrats, voters should be free to express themselves. They fear a dress code could scare away some new voters.

(...)

This fight over the interpretation of a state law designed to shield the polls from partisan electioneering could determine which presidential candidate's supporters might be turned away from the polls in this battleground state.

Democrats have benefited from a surge in voter registration this year, with young adults 18-24 making up the largest group of new registrants, according to statistics from March 30 to Sept. 8. A poll released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University showed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama pulling 15 percentage points ahead of Republican John McCain in the state.

(more)

--http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081004/ap_on_el_pr/what_voters_wear">Yahoo!

Soon, female Pennsylvania voters will have to wear burqas.

[glowing]

1. Wear blue..

[Withywindle]

2. OH NOES, A MUSICAL HAT

ANYTHING BUT THAT!!

:scared:

[ColbertWatcher]

6. I think the BIble mentioned that the Anti-Christ had a musical hat. n/t

[Regret My New Name]

13. dammit, I knew I was doing it wrong.

[Regret My New Name]

12. So long as they don't touch my musical shoes...

[Withywindle]

33. Blue suede?

[anigbrowl]

3. Well, how would you feel about 'McCain or die' t-shirts?

These sort of judgments are hard to call, so I'm OK with a general rule forbidding political displays in the polling place.

[Vincardog]

4. I am an election judge in TX. WE do not allow any political anything in the polling area. No buttons

no signs no shirts or hats expressing anything political.
That is different than a dress code

[Alcibiades]

16. On the folks working the polling place

around the polling place, sure.

But on the voters themselves? That's protected speech. A ban on that is profoundly unconstitutional.

[LeftyMom]

24. The rule is similar here.

No electioneering material (except the non-partisan ballot guides issued by the elections office, which we have to borrow, and any voter guides people keep on their own person for their own use) is permitted within 100 ft of the polling place. It's voluntary- we don't ask people to leave if they have a candidate's button on or anything, only to please cover it up- and we don't do anything if they decline unless they create a disturbance. The idea is that we want the polling place to be a pressure-free non-partisan atmosphere where everybody feels welcome and nobody feels coerced to change their vote.

[Regret My New Name]

17. Why? People should be able to wear what they want...

If the person you speak of is actually causing physical harm then his shirt is the not the issue...

[LeftyMom]

25. To avoid pressure or intimidation and promote the secret ballot.

I can't speak of other localities, but here we ask people to remove/cover up any electioneering material voluntarily, but don't ask them to leave or anything as long as they don't otherwise create a scene. We DO move them right up to the front of the line and generally do our best to get them in and out of our polling place as soon as possible, though of course we don't rush them while they're actually voting.

FWIW, most voters know about and understand this rule (and we have signs up outside) so the only person I've ever had to ask to cover something up (a Kerry button, FWIW) was a voter's teenage daughter back in '04.

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. Why do I get the feeling that Rendell (DLC fucking prick) is trying very hard to throw this election

What's up with that edict from his office that says absoutely NOBODY will be voting a paper ballot unless every last DIEBOLD machine in the state is broken.

Point is Ed, they're ALL broken. But then, you knew that already, didn't you asshole? :grr:

[dragonlady]

7. There is an e-mail going around in Wisconsin about this issue

It says that voters who show up with Obama shirts or hats or buttons can be denied the right to vote. This is not true. There is a prohibition on "electioneering" within 100 feet of the polling place, but the state's manual for election officials says that voters wearing campaign gear should be allowed to vote and then leave immediately. Only poll watchers who stay at the polls would have to leave the gear at home.

If I were a voter in a more restrictive state, though, I'd remember that nothing helps Obama as much as actually casting my vote for him. There's plenty of time before and after that act to wear the gear.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. I like glowing's suggestion (post #1): "wear blue"

It's simple and no one can say it is out right "electioneering".

I think we should all do it.

[ikojo]

9. The same email is making the

rounds in Missouri.

[Realityhack]

22. and that is a reasonable rule IMO n/t

[Trillo]

10. Reality: Naked Voters, oh noes....

In all my years, I've never once witnessed a naked voter at the polls!

You gotta admit one thing about them, hypothetically speaking, they're not carrying anything.... Above suspicion one might say....

[undergroundpanther]

11. fascists love forcing everyone to be just like they are.

Fuck dress Codes.

If it has nothing to do with machinery hazards or food handling safety FUCK DRESS CODES.And FUCK THE GOP BULLY CLUB.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. "FUCK THE GOP BULLY CLUB" quoted for truth! n/t

[Regret My New Name]

15. Do they really think people are that stupid as to be swayed at the last moment by someone shirt?

haha wtf? Isn't the republicans who always make the claim that democrats/liberals don't put enough trust into the average citizen? I guess this kind of ruins that argument. Unless those mobs of people with shirts and buttons are peeking over their shoulders while holding a baseball bat, I don't think they're gonna be affecting many peoples votes.... Of course, I'm sure that was going on then we would obviously have bigger problems than their choice of attire. Do these idiots even think this crap through?

[Realityhack]

19. actually people are that stupid. n/t

[Regret My New Name]

23. lol, really? How many times have you changed your mind because of a shirt?

I admit people are stupid, but I don't think they are that 'sort of' stupid.

[radfringe]

18. I'd wear a mccain t-shirt over a regular shirt

if told I can't wear it while voting, I'll take the t-shirt off and kick in the dirt, or mud puddle if it's raining and leave it there

:evilgrin:

[Realityhack]

21. McCain being on the ballot is not an excuse to litter n/t

[Realityhack]

20. WTF? I can't believe this isn't parody.

Oh no. Secret ballot voting isn't enough. Got to ban t-shirts with slogans least someone be 'forced' to vote with the crowd.
Fucking bullshit. Let the poll workers have a no endorsement dress code. That might be sensible. But seriously, you can put up a yard sign next door but a campaign button is 'electioneering'? On what fucking planet is that electioneering?

Oh man. The vote in Nowhereastan was totally rigged... I heard over half the people were wearing campaign shirts and buttons... OVER HALF!!!!11!!!1!!!111!!!

:wtf:

[and-justice-for-all]

26. The GOP can go fuck themselves..nt

[Cresent City Kid]

27. I say overdress

I say wear a 3 piece suit, and let the McCain voters be the ones with t-shirt and button issues.

[fizzgig]

28. i know what i'm wearing on election day!

now, what song should my hat play?

[Regret My New Name]

29. Probably not barracuda...

[fizzgig]

30. you betcha!

;)

[whistler162]

31. Happy days are here again?

[fizzgig]

32. that could work