Is there anything that prohibits wearing articles of clothing that have political meaning at a polling place?

Two things, specifically:

1. I am talking about Florida, Seminole County, in case rules vary by state or county, and
   
   
2. I am not asking about anything with a candidate's name. I am thinking of wearing my "Keep America Great" hat.

Given the make-up of the crew that works at my local polling place, I'm pretty sure that somebody will have something to say. I'm just wondering whether I have to comply, or can I tell them to pound sand?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I am talking about Florida, Seminole County, in case rules vary by state or county

They do. You'll need to look up your specific state/local laws.

Around here, the polling places have the laws conspicuously posted.

I don’t know about any laws but clearly preparing oneself for negitive interaction from the other side would be warrented.

Don't know about FL, but political activity is prohibited within X feet of a polling place in VA. I am pretty sure that X == 100. Whether or not a garment qualifies as "electioneering" is up to the presiding official at the polling place itself. There have been several incidents at my local polling place in recent years where this distinction was obviously made on the basis of political affiliation. Yes, you guessed it, the Dims were allowed to wear their shirts, but the Reps were not.

It doesn't have to be promoting a particular candidate. I recall a couple of years ago, that an American flag t-shirt was deemed political enough to deny the wearer his franchise, but that this was reversed on appeal, and public outrage.

You can wear the hat.

Case is Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, No. 16-1435. US Supreme Court, this summer.

Link to NYT article: NYT.

ETA - Wikilink: Wiki

If they give you any shit, give 'em the ol' withering V-Tail blistering idiot stare.

I remember seeing this issue somewhere here in FL. IIRC it was ruled that a viter wearing a political item of clothing while in the act of voting did not fall under the campaigning at a voting place section of the law.

But whats the worse thing that will happen? You'll get to make a scene before you turn your hat insise out while you cast your ballot.

AFAIC, in general, shirts or clothing that supports a candidate or measure on the ballot is not allowed. I also would imagine clothing that opposes a candidate as well. As far as any clothing that is Trump, I would think it is OK, since he is not on the ballot. But I read last week a man in New Mexico was turned away because he was wearing a Trump shirt, and apparently they were wrong to refuse his ballot. In fact this recent summer, the SCOTUS overturned a Minnesota law banning all political clothing in voting polls.

Why invite controversy? I know....I know, it's your hat and it's legal and...and...and. What's the point? Just go vote, don't draw attention to yourself and move on with your life. Just my humble opinion.

If you aren't campaigning then I don't think it matters. Start handing out KAG hats or brochures then you got a problem.

Around here it's within fifty or 100' of polling station. So they set up at 51 or 101' and harass you as you walk up to vote. I am not kind to them at all. I usually tell them to fuck off and ask them if they are so stupid to believe that handing me their party sample ballot is somehow going to change my mind.

I really, really hate being harassed as I walk in, I have zero problems with being a complete asshole to them. For some reason they also don't like it when you rip up their papers and try to return it to them.

Wear your hat proudly and give the douchbags a big middle finger salute from me please.

They took the fun out of it here. All mail in voting.

I always did legal CCW at my polling place to vote, so I could exercise as many rights as possible . Now that I vote at the kitchen table, it's not the same.

I always just wear an NRA Shirt and hat!

I'm a chief judge in a NC precinct. ANY AND ALL clothing, signage etc is permitted while the voter is in the act of voting. As long as you're not intentionally being boisterous and disturbing other voters, wear what you like in NC.

You can ask the BOE director:

Elections@VoteSeminole.org
407.585.VOTE (8683)

Polling places in NC are government buildings of course. Schools, rec center and usually fire houses. Open and CCW are prohibited.

As a practical matter, it'll be up to the judgement of the officials at the polling place. Even if they're wrong, you'll still have to go through a process to make them admit they're wrong, and that may well be a process that goes far past Election Day.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
As a practical matter, it'll be up to the judgement of the officials at the polling place. Even if they're wrong, you'll still have to go through a process to make them admit they're wrong, and that may well be a process that goes far past Election Day.

I want to know for sure what the rules are. ArtieS, in his reply above, indicated that in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year, that I'm OK wearing the hat in question. I'm going to take his word for it as he is a lawyer here in Florida.

In that case, if the local polling place workers give me grief, I can always contact the county Supervisor of Elections, right then and there. I think that these workers are volunteers. Not positive about that, but I do know for sure, based on past experience, that they are frequently misinformed. Example: the "gate keeper" attempted to bar me from entering because I did not have a Driver License with me. I had walked over, did not have my license, but I did have my passport, which he erroneously asserted was not acceptable. I ignored him, went to the check-in table and presented passport, the woman there wanted a Driver License, I had to insist that a supervisor come over NOW, and of course I was correct.

Bottom line -- many of these polling place workers are ill informed, inadequately trained, and seem to be enjoying a TSA-type power trip. I am not going to put up with that crap.

If I am legal, wearing my "Keep America Great" hat, I'm going to wear it. If it is really against the rules then of course I will not wear it.

quote:

Originally posted by TXJIM:
Why invite controversy? I know....I know, it's your hat and it's legal and...and...and. What's the point? Just go vote, don't draw attention to yourself and move on with your life. Just my humble opinion.

+1

In MN this is OK.

quote:

Originally posted by Haveme1or2:

quote:

Originally posted by TXJIM:
Why invite controversy? I know....I know, it's your hat and it's legal and...and...and. What's the point? Just go vote, don't draw attention to yourself and move on with your life. Just my humble opinion.

+1

Nope. I am NOT going to just acquiesce to these jerks who see their status as poll workers, as an opportunity to assert their power. "If you like your TSA, you can keep your TSA."

quote:

Bottom line -- many of these polling place workers are ill informed, inadequately trained, and seem to be enjoying a TSA-type power trip. I am not going to put up with that crap.

If I am legal, wearing my "Keep America Great" hat, I'm going to wear it. If it is really against the rules then of course I will not wear it.

I cannot speak for Florida, but your "Keep America Great" hat would be OK to wear in the polling place here.

The rule in Missouri is: No electioneering inside the polling place, or within 25 feet of the entrance to the polling place. This rule applies to articles of clothing promoting a particular candidate who is on the ballot in that election. You can wear your Reagan shirt, or Obama, or Trump because they are not on the ballot in this election.

Of course your your "Keep America Great" hat does not specifically name a candidate anyway and your NRA gear is always fair game.

quote:

Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:
I always just wear an NRA Shirt and hat!

No pants?

Seems like it was perfectly legal in Philly.