Virginia Board Adopts Ban On Campaign Clothing

[ZeSpectre]

Well then, I guess you've told me haven't you <grin>.
Still, I fail to see how anyone could be so weak-minded as to be "unduly influenced" by someone's campaign t-shirt or button.

Seems that this part would have more influence.

It shall be unlawful for any authorized representative, voter, or any other person in the room to (i) hinder or delay a qualified voter;

Walk in, vote, leave.

 

[Spot77]

So I suppose my well worn, NRA hat would be banned since obviously the NRA promotes a particular political issue.

I can't recall who said it, but that person was wrong about most polling places not being on government property, at least here in Maryland where most polling places are public schools and libraries.

 

[Zipperhead]

OK! Now I get it!

/ I have been wondering what the talking heads have been meaning about Republican efforts of "Voter Suppression". That means that if a Republican voter wears a campaign button or t-shirt supporting a Republican candidate at a polling place, it intimidates Democrat voters to the point they either cannot vote or they are forced to vote Republican! /

Goodness!
Isn't there something more significant for us to get worked up about? :banghead:

Zip

 

[Autolycus]

I thought Virginia was a free state. I guess the First Amendment is not important there.

 

[ArmedBear]

solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any person in casting his vote

Well, there you go.

If you don't like this, take it up with the Virginia State Legislature. The Board of Elections is just doing their best to uphold the law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. They could be violating the law if they allow people to walk around polling places with t-shirts or buttons with candidates' names.

Can anyone name a state that has similar anti-electioneering laws, but where wearing a t-shirt with a candidate's name on it is allowed at the polls? I know that California interprets their anti-electioneering laws in the same way that Virginia does.

There's nothing there about Ruger shirts. That's a straw man. Furthermore, as I recall, when I last voted at the Registrar of Voters in San Diego, California, I was wearing some firearms-related shirt or hat. Nobody cared.

 

[Autolycus]

This kind of reminds me of the McCain-Feingold bill in that it is another attempt at strangling free speech when it comes to politics. I do believe that the Founding Fathers of this country would have raised the holiest of hells over this kind of thing. But hey, anything to stop Obama seems to be the mantra coming from the GOP.

 

[Owen]

I seem to recall from HS civics that campaigning at the polling place is against the law. (at least in CT)

Wearing a candidates t-shirt or button may be considered campaigning.

 

[ArmedBear]

This kind of reminds me of the McCain-Feingold bill in that it is another attempt at strangling free speech when it comes to politics. I do believe that the Founding Fathers of this country would have raised the holiest of hells over this kind of thing. But hey, anything to stop Obama seems to be the mantra coming from the GOP.

That's silly.

"Electioneering" has been illegal at the polls in California since long before I started voting in 1984, and this has been considered "electioneering" as long as I've been aware of it.

It has NOTHING to do with Obama, and it's pretty much the same everywhere I'm aware of, not just Virginia.

If someone wants to make the case that this is a 1st Amendment violation, it should go to court. But as it stands, this is how polling places work anywhere that I know about, and with good reason.

As I said, in California, many polling places are on private property that people offer for the purpose. Should polls be in a house, office, or other building covered with McCain posters, or Obama posters? If not, then why should the place be filled with people with McCain or Obama shirts?

Since these laws have to be applied equally to all, that ultimately has to mean anyone in the place. If poll workers can choose who can and can't display campaign signs, THEN you have a serious 1st Amendment problem!

Finally, it's also silly to suggest that "within 40 feet of a polling place" is remotely equivalent to "within 40,000 feet of a polling place." Many laws limit what someone can do when it might block traffic, impede pedestrians, block doorways, etc. Free speech does not imply the right to impede. A 40-foot rule is simply an implementation of that same principle. You may not like it, but that doesn't make it inherently wrong.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

Been the law in Kentucky for years, nothing new. Can't have bumper stickers on your car within so many feet of a voting place either. It's to keep the elections free.

If you've never been in a part of the country where voters were intimidated by a ruling political party or out right bought for cash or a bottle of booze, then you wouldn't understand.

Oh, and this didn't happen to just redneck country bumpkins....happened with with the holy unions behind candidates also in the big cities.

 

[KyJim]

Been the law in Kentucky for years, nothing new. Can't have bumper stickers on your car within so many feet of a voting place either. It's to keep the elections free.

If you've never been in a part of the country where voters were intimidated by a ruling political party or out right bought for cash or a bottle of booze, then you wouldn't understand.

Oh, and this didn't happen to just redneck country bumpkins....happened with with the holy unions behind candidates also in the big cities.

Kentucky used to have a 500 foot area of no electioneering but the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals struck that down as being too far a distance. Current law in Kentucky prohibits electioneering within 300 feet of a polling place.

The laws are designed to prevent both intimidation and vote buying and are necessary to help insure the integrity of the election system. While a campaign button seems innocent enough, it is important to have a bright line where no electioneering is allowed so that there is no favoritism by the poll workers.

 

[Art Eatman]

Good summary closing statement, KyJim.

Art