The following statement comes from author Stacey Patton and, below that, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund site. There has been a bit of confusion, I think, about wearing political paraphernalia to the polls on election day. Please feel free to forward for state-by-state clarity: http://www.preparedtovote.org/.

Hello Everyone,

I’ve been getting a lot of questions regarding claims about wearing certain
kinds of paraphernalia to the polls on Election Day. I’m going to share with
you the statement that we put on our website at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Please do feel free to circulate to others.

S. Patton

A widely circulated email recently claimed that wearing a t-shirt, hat, button
or other paraphernalia bearing a candidate’s name or image violates “the law”
and is grounds for a poll worker to turn a voter away from the polling place.

The truth is that laws regarding what voters can wear to the polls on Election
Day vary from state to state. WHile most states prohibit campaigning for a
candidate within a certain distance from a polling place, every state does not
consider the garments or paraphernalia a voter wears to vote campaigning.

In some states, like Alabama for instance, a voter can wear campaign clothing or
paraphernalia to vote but cannot distribute campaign literature within 30 feet
of the polling place. On the other hand, voters in Indiana are required to
cover campaign clothing or paraphernalia when they enter the polling place
before they vote. Because the rules vary widely from state to state, voters
must prepare to vote now by contacting their respective local elections
officials or Secretaries of State to determine what can be worn to the polls on
Election Day.

Comment(s)

§ Ivy Pittman said on : 10/21/08 @ 21:35

Thank you for clarifying this rumor. I just got into a major debate over this dilemma.

Comment(s)

§ Ivy Pittman said on : 10/21/08 @ 21:38

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund should require that the Voter Bill of Rights include this information.

Comment(s)

§ eisa718®   said on : 10/22/08 @ 15:13

I think a lot of folk have been confused about what they can wear when they go to vote, Ivy. I’m glad this statement from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund has helped to clear things up for you.

Eisa

Comment(s)

§ Eisa said on : 10/29/08 @ 07:44

That’s a great point, Straightshooter. As a Brooklynite, I’m surrounded by proud, open Obama voters. I have, however, been concerned about people of color in other parts of the country who live and/or work near McCain supporters, specifically those who have spewed virulent hate speech at McCain’s town hall events. I’m sure it’s hard for Obama supporters – of any cultural or ethnic background – in certain parts of the country, as the Republican drive to verbal violence has been speeding forward this election.

While I’d never want anyone to feel so compromised that s/he feels vulnerable simply for wearing a campaign button, it probably does make sense for folk to enter the polling places appearing completely neutral, pull their secret ballot, and safely go about their lives.

Comment(s)

§ emily said on : 11/01/08 @ 22:50

Seems like some supporters are hoping to influence the election by wearing attire that endorses their candidate.

Comment(s)

§ eisa718®   said on : 11/02/08 @ 06:45

Thanks for commenting, Emily. I must say, think that there is an unprecedented sense of overwhelming pride in this election year. I appreciate your post, and you may be right in some instances, but I would bet the bank that the majority of folk – of all colors, of all classes, of all sexual orientations, of all accents, around the world even – are incredibly excited to replace mediocrity with excellence. This is the most important election of your life. Trust. If you are a Gen Y-er, you might not get this just yet, but this is perhaps the most important election in the nation’s history. You are bearing witness to greatness.

Go, Obama. Go!