So this is new to me.
Apparently, its against the law to wear a t-shirt, button, hat, or whatever with your candidate on it when you go to the polls.
Against. The. Law.
May I be the first to ask why? How? And most urgently, whiskey tango foxtrot?
If one of our most sacred rights enumerated in the first 10 Amendments is freedom of speech, why would we restrict it in that most important of speech flavors — political speech? And on election day(s), no less.
It’s mind bottling. I’m wracking my brains trying to come up with why anyone would have a problem with someone wearing an Obama, McCain, or Barr (whoop whoop!) t-shirt at the polls. Here’s all I could come up with.
- It might influence someone’s vote? Seriously? Has anyone’s mind ever been changed by a t-shirt? (Except maybe the one in <—- that picture?)
- Something about secret ballots? Huh? The guarantee of a secret ballot is the government won’t reveal who you vote for. It doesn’t restrict you from telling the world who you voted for.
- Um, I got nothing for No 3. I bet they don’t either.
Like 90 percent of laws, this is one that should be overturned. Or at least ignored.
In fact, yeah, I’m going to encourage you to send a link to this post to everyone you know in The DFW, and encourage them to break this asinine law. Seriously. I don’t care if you back Obama, McCain, or my candidate, the guy who looks like an effete French maître d’. Say “no more” to government muzzles and wear your political t-shirt to the polls. Overwhelm them.
The Powers That Be need help remembering they’re there to serve us, not the other way around. So help them out. Give them a hand, or at least a finger.
Don’t be an ass, Trey. The “them” you’re causing trouble for are the people working as election judges and clerks — as volunteers (sure, they get about $7.50 an hour, but believe me, it’s not worth it. This is a volunteer effort).
You want to change the law, harass your legislators. Don’t make what’s already going to be a rough day for these people even worse. This election will only be the second time in the last 12 years that I haven’t been able to serve as the election judge of my precinct — it’s hard enough keeping things running smoothly — and legally — without some self-righteous jackass encouraging people to break the laws the poll workers have to enforce. All you’re going to do is make a bunch of voters and poll workers unhappy, and ensure that there are even fewer people willing to serve as poll workers next time around.
In fact, why don’t you make yourself useful and volunteer to work at a poll on election day? The elections office and both parties are desperate for workers, so call the party of your choice and volunteer for an assignment. I don’t know who you think the “Powers the Be” that are there to “serve you” are — but the election workers are just your fellow citizens that are a little more civic-minded than you apparently are.
I’ve worked the polls for many, many elections. I totally agree with what the commenter above said, if not so much the way he said it or the tone he used. But anyway, the poll workers are just going to be harassed by this. The law is the law, and they will have to make all those people turn their t-shirts inside-out or something. It’s not like they made that decision.
And, just in case you (or anyone else reading) is curious, the law controlling this is the law that prohibits electioneering within so many feet of the poll. You know, those signs you see a ways out (10 yards? I don’t recall exactly) from the polling place – typically the exact spot all the people are standing to pass out flyers and such on your way in.
Flyers are allowed because you can bring in reference material to help you vote. Hats, shirts, etc. that are just advertising for a candidate are not.
I hope that helps. Oh, and by the way, I agree with you that this should be changed, but in this case some good’ole civil disobedience will just harass a bunch of people that are going to have a hard enough day as it is.
Well, Trey, I guess you’ll like this.