New York is one of several states in the U.S. that has created a law so that voters do not wear campaign buttons, t-shirts, hats and signs within or near to polling places. Other states with this law include Nebraska and Virginia.
Although the sign implies your vote may be at risk, State Board of Elections spokesman Bob Brehm said, "No one will be thrown in jail over a shirt at the polls," according to the Observer.
Essentially the sign is asking voters to not wear campaign paraphernalia because they might be turned away from the polls. Polling officials do have the right to prevent someone from voting if they attempt to enter the polling place in such conditions.
Emily Metz, a polling place volunteer for the past thirty years stood out in her American flag sweater.
"I think that if someone is coming into vote and is undecided, their vote may be swayed because they see someone wearing a certain shirt," Metz said. "If they think that person looks 'good' or educated, it could easily determine their vote."
Metz said no one at the Ellis Hollow Apartments Polling Place had a problem following the law although it essentially violates the First Amendment. The amendment not only guarantees an American citizen to the freedom of speech, but also the freedom to petition. Many online bloggers have said that the signs are an attempt to scare away voters, a phenomenon that is becoming more and more common in increasingly competitive elections.
New York state does have a law that prohibits entering a polling place with campaigning gear or with children wearing campaign gear. Fortunately this did not seem to be major issue in Tompkins County this term.
Watch a video of the Ellis Hollow Apartment polling place below:
Story at the Polls-- Joy Kucinkas
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