HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- When you head to the polls to vote, you better check your wardrobe and choose wisely. Wearing the wrong clothes could cost you your vote. Suprised? Listen up! The law restricts one right to allow you the privilege of another.
You can't wear a shirt, hat or button supporting a candidate, issue or even an idea when you go to vote. It's called electioneering and it's the equivalent of carrying a yard sign into the poll.
“Poll workers are trained to ask them to cover or remove the object. If they don’t have anything to cover up with, then they will be asked to leave and go change,” said Karen Cole, Cabell County Clerk.
It's the subject of an email circulating the internet, blowing up email boxes across the country. The e-mail warns Obama supporters not to wear shirts, pins or hats, informing them it's against the law and you can be turned away. The law isn't new, but it's not well known either. And given the highly charged political season, parties on both sides are reminding their voters to dot their i's and cross their t's.
David Tyson is a local Republican party official. He's also an attorney who strongly disagrees with the law.
“I think it’s wrong. If I wear my small button to the poll and even if I don’t say anything, I could be in trouble and I think it’s wrong and it discourages voters,” said Tyson.
And he's not the only one it doesn't sit well with.
“It doesn't seem fair, although, that you can’t wear what you want to wear,” said Maureen Gagnon, a voter.
“I don’t think it’s right at all,” said Joshua Jannoto, a voter.
The laws vary from state to state. Kentucky's Secretary of State says he would advise people not to wear campaign paraphenalia to avoid violating the laws against campaigning at the polls.
If you have any questions about the law in your state, contact your local board of elections or county officials.