Would it be like the dress code they have at crappy fratboy bars? No timberlands, bandannas, or white t-shirts.

"Sue Nace thought election volunteers were joking when they told her she would have to remove her T-shirt to vote in the presidential primary last spring."

Topless voting? Go on... I'm listening...

There's nothing quite like voter intimidation.

What's next: an aptitude test?

I'm outraged. They won't let me in with my thong decorated with jalapeños? Cretins.

I even found a banana pepper that made it anatomically correct ;)

If I were to make a list of the most ludicrous, non-issue shiat I could think of I can be 100 percent confident I will eventually read something about it in the mainstream US media. Your democracy has been been bastardised into some sort of b-grade sitcom.

Nanny state.

Did you hear me? I said NANNY STATE.

I remember some years ago a local police commissioner was stopped at the door to a polling place because he was wearing a tie with elephants on it. He told the worker he was going in like it or not, got a problem? Call the cops. He sidestepped the worker and went in and voted. The worker (a volunteer, I think) made a big deal over it. Got nowhere.

SpinStopper: I'm outraged. They won't let me in with my thong decorated with jalapeños? Cretins.


You can wear that. But if you show-up at the polls with an Obama shirt (or a McCain shirt), you won't be allowed to vote unless you cover it up.

While I understand the rationale - you're not allowed to campaign with 100 yards of a polling place and buying t-shirts are considered campaign donations - the implication that you "can't vote" isn't true.

Absentee ballots available outside the polling place, an area to turn the shirt inside out in private, the ability for pollsters not to have a major stick up their butt - all possible solutions to prevent issues.

Otherwise the pollsters are committing the very infraction they are supposedly trying to prevent - election fraud.

meekychuppet: Nanny state.

Did you hear me? I said NANNY STATE.

Nah, just a bit of good old-fashioned GOP fascism power-tripping. Most states have laws prohibiting electioneering directly outside polling places, so wearing anything in favor of one candidate or another to a polling place could be interpreted as such, but it's still a dick move.

You Brits have the Nanny State thing all sewn up. Congrats.

honeymaid8: While I understand the rationale - you're not allowed to campaign with 100 yards of a polling place and buying t-shirts are considered campaign donations - the implication that you "can't vote" isn't true.

Yeah. Reading TFA made me remember that we have that same sort of law here in IL (so you'll see a veritable FOREST of yard signs parked right on that "no more electioneering from here on in" boundary outside every polling place) but I don't know if wearing political shirts has ever been an issue.

Voting is in November so it's not as if people wear T-shirts to vote anyway, but I honestly can't recall seeing political wear at the polls.

But yes, if it IS an issue, just provide a poncho there.

itazurakko: Voting is in November so it's not as if people wear T-shirts to vote anyway

Not everyone lives in cold country. Just saying.

/ lived in Key West for years
// t-shirts in February, ftw!

Two Dogs Farking: Nah, just a bit of good old-fashioned GOP fascism power-tripping. Most states have laws prohibiting electioneering directly outside polling places, so wearing anything in favor of one candidate or another to a polling place could be interpreted as such, but it's still a dick move.

You Brits have the Nanny State thing all sewn up. Congrats.

I don't think you heard me correctly, I said NANNY STATE.

Funny. We don't have all these weird voter intimidation issues in Oregon.

Oh, right. Our polling place? The little blue box on the corner.

FredaDeStilleto: SpinStopper: I'm outraged. They won't let me in with my thong decorated with jalapeños? Cretins.


You can wear that. But if you show-up at the polls with an Obama shirt (or a McCain shirt), you won't be allowed to vote unless you cover it up.

You can vote without covering it up, but you can't hang around inside the building or even in the parking lot once you've voted unless you do cover it up. It would be considered campaigning.

Some people just take those campaigning regulations too far, either to intimidate voters or because they simply misunderstand the rules.

itazurakko: Voting is in November so it's not as if people wear T-shirts to vote anyway

I wear t-shirts over a long-sleeve shirt when it's chilly.

/Ordered my Obama/Biden shirt last week. And I will wear it to the polls.

I was arguing with my father yesterday. He was upset about alleged voter fraud in Ohio where Democrats are alegedly rounding up the homeless giving them a meal and registering them to vote for Obama. I countered with some stuff about vote caging in Michigan. This is just more proof of my basic premises. Whenever someone complains about alleged electioneeering shenanigans the Republicans are always tring to prevent somewone from voting and the Democrats are trying to get someone to vote.



There are excesses on both sides. But, all in all lets get people to vote.

honeymaid8:

It's one thing to say that volunteers or paid campaign workers can't do certain things at a polling place, it's an entirely different issue to say that a voter is restricted from or deprived of voting because of the clothing they may be wearing.

It's a form of voter intimidation, plain and simple.

SpinStopper: I'm outraged. They won't let me in with my thong decorated with jalapeños? Cretins.

I even found a banana pepper that made it anatomically correct ;)

Looks at profile PLEASE DON"T

I sorry can't find this in the Constitution. I can see to find the part about voter ID either...

What is the GOP? The party of drunken spending, big government, oil companies, religious nuts, war mongering, racism, reverse Robinhoods, and now voter suppression.

Nice group you got there.

This is important, a true issue, how dare people wear what they want to vote??? Jeebsus, they need to have the fashion police at the door, white AFTER Labor Day? You are not allowed to vote, go home!!!

FredaDeStilleto: It's one thing to say that volunteers or paid campaign workers can't do certain things at a polling place, it's an entirely different issue to say that a voter is restricted from or deprived of voting because of the clothing they may be wearing.

It's a form of voter intimidation, plain and simple.

Maybe I'm being a purist, but since when are campaign workers or volunteers NOT voters? As I said, the 'you can't vote' argument is patently false. I liked itazurakko's idea of the poncho like you wear when you get your hair cut.

That way there's no question of impropriety. It's easier to defend high ground.

drjekel_mrhyde: SpinStopper: I'm outraged. They won't let me in with my thong decorated with jalapeños? Cretins.

I even found a banana pepper that made it anatomically correct ;)

Looks at profile PLEASE DON"T

Good point. I'd have to cover up my nipples, and I'm not quite ready for that ;)

honeymaid8: since when are campaign workers or volunteers NOT voters?

They are voters, but that is not why they are at the polls. They are working. And there are enough laws on the books - one's with which I agree - that prevent politicing within x amount of feet from the actual place of voting.

Voting is a right. Placing a "dress code" on the voter places an unreasonable restriction on that right. If the voter is dressed indecently, there are separate laws for that issue.

I understand the idea of no electioneering or campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place, but dammit man, if people's convictions are so paper thin that they would be swayed by what t-shirt some stranger in line ahead of them is wearing, on the day of the election, then they should be allowed to vote in the first place.

FredaDeStilleto: honeymaid8: since when are campaign workers or volunteers NOT voters?

They are voters, but that is not why they are at the polls. They are working. And there are enough laws on the books - one's with which I agree - that prevent politicing within x amount of feet from the actual place of voting.

Voting is a right. Placing a "dress code" on the voter places an unreasonable restriction on that right. If the voter is dressed indecently, there are separate laws for that issue.

BUT A MUSICAL HAT!! what is next?

Top hats and cuff links!

KellyLockhart: Not everyone lives in cold country. Just saying.

Absolutely. It's just the reason *I* haven't seen the issue come up yet, possibly. I'm trying to think if I've seen buttons on backpacks, etc but can't recall.

I do wonder just how many levels of annoyance you could get with a Musical Hat...

FredaDeStilleto: Voting is a right. Placing a "dress code" on the voter places an unreasonable restriction on that right. If the voter is dressed indecently, there are separate laws for that issue.

"Hey, come pull THIS lever! I'll be your candidate, baby!" :D

Wearing a campaign t-shirt or campaign button when you go vote is a far different thing than campaigning within a certain distance from a polling place. I know plenty of Republicans in the past who've worn campaign gear to vote, heck, I have in the past too. That they're complaining now is disingenuous at best, and attempts at voter suppression most likely.

Mostly off topic here, but lately I've been thinking that seeding a small group of regular citizens by random lottery would be a good idea. You could conduct it sort of like jurey duty. Do background checks and conduct interviews, the whole vetting process, and then get 20 random americans into the house or the senate. I doubt this country will ever have an alternative to this stupid 2 party system, but I'd like to see something set up that provides at least some kind of less partisan crap.

FredaDeStilleto: honeymaid8:

It's one thing to say that volunteers or paid campaign workers can't do certain things at a polling place, it's an entirely different issue to say that a voter is restricted from or deprived of voting because of the clothing they may be wearing.

It's a form of voter fashion intimidation, plain and simple.

FTFY.

Grow up.
Even if you're not an official campaign worker or volunteer, there are restrictions.
And you're not allowed to get around them by claiming "I'm doing this on my own".

You aren't allowed to put up election signs and billboards within so many feet of a polling place.
You aren't allowed to hand out fliers or Vote McCain/Palin buttons.
You aren't allowed to park your "Vote Obama" decorated minivan outside while you vote inside.
You aren't allowed to stand outside with a bullhorn and talk about the Green Party candidate.
You're in a "No Electioneering" zone.

Is it really all that unreasonable to restrict you from trying to do a end-run around the no electioneering principle via a "Vote [X]" t-shirt or sweater that can be read from across the room?
Really?

error 303: Mostly off topic here, but lately I've been thinking that seeding a small group of regular citizens by random lottery would be a good idea. You could conduct it sort of like jurey duty. Do background checks and conduct interviews, the whole vetting process, and then get 20 random americans into the house or the senate. I doubt this country will ever have an alternative to this stupid 2 party system, but I'd like to see something set up that provides at least some kind of less partisan crap.

Tribunes? Your average 'random, regular American' could be bought by lobbyists at a fraction of what it takes to bribe the average elected Representative or Senator.

There is no substitute for an informed, sceptical electorate paying attention.

So were the small minded poll workers FTA republicans or independants?

This isn't the stupidest thing I've heard today. But it's close.

should there be a dress code to vote?

No. Any questions?

The whole thing is silly and overblown.

It did bring back memories of when I was a young (we had to walk to the polls, uphill, in the snow...) but then it was amazing watching people, including my parents, get dressed up to vote. My dad, and most of the town, would get out their suit-or at least a tie- just to go vote. It was that important.

I understand and appreciate the "electioneering" laws, but if someone on their way to vote changes their mind based on a t-shirt or sign reading, "[Candidate] [Year]," I submit they should have been barred from voting anyway as they had clearly just escaped the Institute for the Criminally Stupid and were off their meds.

Millroy: I understand the idea of no electioneering or campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place, but dammit man, if people's convictions are so paper thin that they would be swayed by what t-shirt some stranger in line ahead of them is wearing, on the day of the election, then they should be allowed to vote in the first place.

Also, what this person said.

The State Election Commissioner of North Carolina went on regional TV and said, very specifically, that electioneering and voter intimidation DOES NOT extend to restricting partisan clothing. Electioneering only extends to non-clothing signage, and verbal indications of voting preference. If you walk into a polling place and say, "I'm here to vote for X", then the election officials are supposed to ask you to either keep it to yourself or leave.

I think that's a very straightforward interpretation. I'm sure some local election yokel will make some boneheaded decision, whereupon the state election board will make all election officials go through another round of training.

Why can't the other 49 states follow suit?

I really never understood why the way to vote hasn't been nationalized, as in everyone using the same form, voting by mail for everyone that is registered etc.

I am stuck with Diebold machines here in PA and you cannot get an absentee ballot without proof of why you will be absent and if you ask for a paper ballot, your district may not provide them. It's at their discretion.

I, for example, cannot get a paper ballot and there are no paper ballots at the polling place either.

I looked into it the first time I went to vote here.

Can't we just select a president by lottery and be done with this madness forever?

If even Palin is "qualified" to be president, then I guess a lottery would be just fine.

I think the President should be elected on American Idol.

This is yet another Republican attempt to keep minorities from voting. I've seen this same dress code idea used in bars in white neighborhoods to "keep the riff-raff out."

Taking this to its logical conclusion, what happens if I wear a blue t-shirt under a red jacket (aside from snickering from the fashion police)?

meekychuppet: I don't think you heard me correctly, I said NANNY STATE.

RON PAUL!

Did I do it right?

TheOther: Waaaaa!! I'm not allowed to say Boobies!

When the filter no longer discourages people and they break the rules intentionally is it time to just ban the morons? Inquiring minds want to know.

Skyfrog: When the filter no longer discourages people and they break the rules intentionally is it time to just ban the morons?

Yes.

There should be a dress code.

No suit jackets
No ties
No shirts with collars
No clothing with golf company logos

This is such a non-story. Banning campaign signs, clothing and buttons has been on the books forever. You simply can't endorse a candidate on public property.

In 1992, I wore a Clinton sweatshirt to the polls and I had to zip up my jacket before I could go in. Big farking deal. I then had the pollworkers remove whatever proposition signs were on the precinct's - a public school - lawn at the time.

You can wear your campaign buttons before or after you vote...screaming about the First Amendment is just attention-whoring.

Yes, I'm voting Obama. I'd rather see more serious violations of The Bill of Rights being parroted by the media.

lajimi: I remember some years ago a local police commissioner was stopped at the door to a polling place because he was wearing a tie with elephants on it. He told the worker he was going in like it or not, got a problem? Call the cops. He sidestepped the worker and went in and voted. The worker (a volunteer, I think) made a big deal over it. Got nowhere.

The worker was in the right. The cop was in the wrong. Abuse of power. I'm sorry the worker didn't get justice. I wonder what other ways the cop engages in intimidation and 'i'm above the law suck it', and how often it crosses over onto the job or into his personal life.

lilbjorn the 'dress code' is not to wear anything which can be construed as politically biased. poll taxes and literacy tests are biased. asking people not to advertise who they're voting for is common sense.

so people can't go in there with Obama OR McCain (or McKinney or Barr or whomever) gear on. you can't pass out pamphlets. you can't wear Obama or McCain (or your candidate of choice's) pins or buttons. it's no big deal. don't wear your heart on your sleeve on election day -- just exercise your right to vote.

all that stuff has a psychological effect, and I'm glad they try to put clamps down on it. it's no big deal to follow the rules for an hour. People trying to make a big deal about 'well I'm gonna wear whatever I want' are part of the problem (and probably not really interested in voting in the first place).