What You Can't Wear to Vote
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Updated: 5:33 PM Oct 1, 2008
What You Can't Wear to Vote
Wearing the wrong clothes could cost you your vote. Surprised? Listen up! The law restricts one right to allow you the privilege of another.
Posted: 6:40 PM Sep 30, 2008
Reporter: Carrie Cline
Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com
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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.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Reesa Bell on Nov 4, 2008 at 12:48 PM

I wore a button into my voting place & they starting yelling @ me.."You cant have that on!!!!!" I was like What? Anyways come to find out I was never informed that you could not wear a button...I was very EMBARRASED AT THIS IN FRONT OF SEVERAL PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This may change if I vote again @ a poll..I may start absent voting...I was very very embarrased....Thanks for your time...Reesa Bell
Posted by: jasmine on Oct 20, 2008 at 05:05 PM

I was threatened to be arrested!!!! I had no idea it was illegal in TX to wear a candidates face on a t-shirt when you go to vote in TX. I heard snickering when I entered the voter line area, and twenty seconds later, I was getting yelled at in public by the election volunteer, who told me to "get out of line right now and take off the shirt or I will call the police and have you arrested." I went to a nearby Officer and he had never heard of the law, either. It turns out that the law does exist. So I guess I should have known what law enforcement official don't even know. I lost my place in line, turned my shirt inside out and voted! Please get the word out, particularly to the young voters who wear their Obama shirts with pride!
Posted by: Kellie Benton on Oct 17, 2008 at 12:38 PM

What happened to Freedom of Speach. I feel this is absolutely wrong. Whats next...This counrty that our fathers fought for gave us all the rights for freedom and our freedom of speach... This country is on the ferge of nothing but sochialism


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