Strange email I just got: any truth to this?

[CatWoman]

Subject: URGENT UPDATE PLEASE SHARE : DON'T DELETE!

The text below is very important information that we all need to share.


PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ADVISE EVERYONE YOU KNOW THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT
GO TO THE POLLS WEARING ANY OBAMA SHIRTS, PINS OR HATS, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW
AND WILL BE GROUNDS TO HAVE THE POLLING OFFICIALS TO TURN YOU AWAY.
THAT IS CONSIDERED CAMPAIGNING AND NO ONE CAN CAMPAIGN WITHIN X AMOUNT OF
FEET TO THE POLLS. THEY ARE BANKING ON US BEING EXCITED AND NOT BEING AWARE
OF THIS LONG STANDING LAW THAT YOU CAN BET WILL BE ENFORCED
THISYEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THEY ARE BANKING THAT IF ARE TURNED AWAY YOU WILL NOT GO HOME AND CHANGE YOUR
CLOTHES.. PLEASE JUST DON'T WEAR OBAMA GEAR OF ANY SORTS TO THE POLLS!!
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION, OH AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE ALREADY AWARE
THIS WAS NOT MEANT TO INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE.

JUST TRYING TO COVER ALL GROUNDS.

[begin_within]

1. but it's OK to wear McCain shirts?

[gateley]

2. This has been posted, and the responses indicated that it is true.

Just to be on the safe side, no Obama gear.

[SharonAnn]

42. As an Election Officer, I have the obligation to remove from the polling place

any "campaign" material or "campaigning persons".

No campaign material (includihng shirts, buttons, hats, etc.) within 100 ft. of the polling place.

This is not a new rule and it has been the rule in every state I've lived in.

I have allowed people to cover their shirt, take off their button or hat, or turn their shirt inside out. But I try to find ways to permit people to vote while the GOP tries to find ways to prevent people from voting.

Nonetheless, if I ask someone to leave because of campaign material and they won't leave, then I will have to call the sheriff and ask an officer to come and remove them. If I did not do that, the election could be invalidated or some kind of fraud could be alleged.

Don't give your election officer a big hassle! They have a big job to do and quite a bit of authority.

[gateley]

43. And this is why you're one of 'us' --

But I try to find ways to permit people to vote while the GOP tries to find ways to prevent people from voting.

[TahitiNut]

45. How about a tattoo? Maybe an Obama logo tattoo on the cheek?

:evilgrin:

[Warpy]

48. it's true

You'll be advised by people at the polls to turn the shirt inside out and to leave the hat and pin in the car.

I barely got away with my "No W" sticker on my bike in 2004. I got a dirty look but they didn't make me park down the block.

[YOY]

3. It completely insulted my intelligence.

Anyone who stops me from voting in an Obama shirt is getting a foot in their ass.

[dysfunctional press]

13. then you'd be arrested fro assulting an election judge.

electioneering is not allowed by either side.

you'd be wise to learn the rules and laws.

[YOY]

15. A "Verbal" foot in the ass and I'd walk right past them.

I am not prone to committing assault.

[dysfunctional press]

19. you wouldn't get a ballot to vote with.

have you ever even voted before?
:shrug:

[YOY]

23. I've never heard of that nonsense at any voting station I've been at.

Anyone who tells you that you cannot vote where I am at because of a button is not a judge.

[crispini]

28. I'm an election judge

We wouldn't necessarily keep someone from voting, but if we spotted it, we'd ask people to take the button off.

[YOY]

31. I've never been stopped before.

Nor asked. Is this on a state by state basis?

[dysfunctional press]

34. it's a federal law.

nt

[YOY]

35. Had a button last election...never been stopped.

n/t

[dysfunctional press]

38. perhaps your election judges aren't the brightest then...

it's not a very popular job, and i have worked with some really strange ones.

[YOY]

41. Then I stand corrected.

I guess my Jim Webb pin wasn't enough to set the judge off then.

[myrna minx]

47. I was politely asked to remove my Wellstone button during the 2002 election by a judge. .

I had forgotten that I was wearing it. I put it back on when I left the polls. It wasn't a big deal.

[dysfunctional press]

32. they are where i'm an election judge.

we're the ones who have to tell people that electioneering is against the law.
we're also the ones who hand out the ballots.
and nobody who ignored us on electioneering would get a ballot.

[DrRang]

14. You may plant a foot in somebody's ass, but you probably won't get a foot in the polling place.

[CatWoman]

21. be still my heart

:)

[YOY]

33. Now now CatWoman...just a verbal one...not a literal one!

If they steal it...maybe a literal one though...

[dysfunctional press]

36. pssst...the word is "literal"

just thought you might like to know while there's still editing time.

[YOY]

40. No need to be snarky. I stand corrected on the matter.

n.t.

[hobbit709]

4. I'm wary of any emails that are all caps.

[peace13]

5. Correct.

No political signs, pins or paraphernalia within 100 feet of the polling area.

[hobbit709]

11. The only button I wear at the polling place

Is one that says "I AM AN ENEMY OF THE STATE" Nobody's hassled me about it and I get quite a few smiles.

[alfredo]

29. I wear my Election Official button, but then I get paid to be there.

[alfredo]

25. Our laws state that no signs in polls, no distribution of campaign literature,

no solicitation of voters, no petitions. No yard signs within 300ft of polls. Poll workers cannot speak of any candidate or issue. Political books and newspapers are banned. Wearing pins, or clothing supporting a candidate or issue is banned for poll workers.

If a person comes in with a shirt or button, fine, just as long as they keep their yaps shut, do their duty and leave.

These are the rules in Kentucky.

[my2sense]

6. If my memory serves correctly

there were people turned away at the poll for wearing t-shirts in the primaries. I can't say with 100% certainty - my memory is pretty fuzzy these days.

[leftofcool]

7. I think this may be true in some states

[MadrasT]

8. See this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4068473

[CatWoman]

24. oh look!!!

the kitty in your avatar looks just like my Male!!!

:hi:

thanks :)

[merwin]

9. Wild guess, but I think it's a scam.

They may be able to turn you away if you are part of the campaign, but if you are just wearing a shirt then that's a major free speech violation.

[Fleshdancer]

10. I know you're not suppose to campaign, but can they turn you away?

It might be a good idea to bring several old t-shirts that others can pull over their Obama shirt if it comes to this.

[dysfunctional press]

17. yes. you can be turned away.

or you can cover the shirt.

[bean fidhleir]

22. I believe you can be arrested too: interfering with an election

which could be anything from misdemeanor to felony (it should be a felony, if done knowingly).

[Fleshdancer]

39. I'm bringing extra non-political t-shirts then in case someone needs it

The last thing I want to see is a new voter getting arrested over something like this.

[JPZenger]

12. Is a challenge about T-shirts

There is a challenge underway about whether voters can wear T-shirts and buttons when they enter the polling place to vote. I believe it is in Pennsylvania. The state law says politicking is prohibited within the polling place. The common practice has been to not worry about it as long as the person doesn't try to influence other voters. At worst, they could make someone turn their T-shirt inside out or remove their buttons.

[featherman]

16. It is a law in a few places. Recent controversy in Pennsylvania... ok'ed by court

"The Pennsylvania Department of State is telling county elections officials that voters who show up at the polls wearing campaign buttons or T-shirts shouldn't be kept from voting.

The state's elections commissioner sent a letter to the counties last week saying that as long as the voter doesn't try to campaign in the polling place, then his or her attire shouldn't matter.

The final decision rests with county elections officials.

The letter from the Department of State's Chet Harhut responds to an inquiry from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU says it has received voter complaints in recent elections from Allegheny County, Lancaster County, Montgomery County and York County."

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/09/tshirts_buttons_okd_for_pollin.html

[JuniperLea]

18. If we start getting emails encouraging us to wear Obama t-shirts

on election day... we will know this first email is true! LOL! I'm just trying to think dirty, like the GOP:) They would totally tell everyone to "show your Obama pride at the polls!" knowing full well we'd be turned away.

I blame George W. Bush for my overdose on cynicism!

[renate]

49. I think you're right... in fact I would be amazed if they don't try it n/t

[emulatorloo]

20. Turn your T-shirt inside out and vote. EOM

[Dogtown]

26. "Kerry" shirt?

Not electioneering.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. I've not heard of any places where it's legal...

...but since it hasn't been enforced, a lot of folks might think it's ok. Since there are laws that prohibit electioneering within a certain distance of the polls, it makes sense. However, it seems like the law should apply to fliers as much as apparel.

There have been reports that thugs in certain states are going to insist on enforcement. I'm thinking that a button-down shirt layered over the Obama T is the way to go. Exiting the polls, you can take the shirt off and let everyone know how you voted, if you're the demonstrative type.

[murphymom]

30. Actually, I got called on that once

It was years ago when I lived in California, and I went to vote wearing a pair of red, white and blue donkey earrings. The old gal manning the place gave me the line about no campaign materials in the polling place, so I took them off and put them in my pocket, then voted, even though I thought it was a bit of a stretch to make an issue of it.

This would apply to any candidate or party's materials.

[Cleita]

37. I believe it is illegal. In the past no one took that much

notice, but in today's climate I wouldn't put it past the RNC to insist that poll workers enforce this law.

[Ilsa]

44. Don't wear or carry any campaign materials into the polling place if

your state prohibits it. I believe it does in Texas, as signs have be a minimum distance from the polls.

[Jane Eyre]

46. Election laws vary by state

Here in NC, it is OK to wear a campaign t-shirt as long as you are there to vote only AND you are not otherwise trying to influence the votes of others. No electioneering is allowed within 50 feet of the voting place. If you are campaigning for a candidate or referendum issue, you have to stay outside the 50-foot sign placed outside the polling location. If you need to go inside for any reason other than to vote, you should be prepared to cover up. And while you are within the 50-foot line, you absolutely cannot distribute campaign literature, leave literature on tables or booths, discuss candidates with voters, etc.

Polls are required to have both Republican and Democratic workers employed at the precinct so that anyone requesting assistance with the voting process will be provided assistance by a person from their own party. My experience has been that the folks employed as election day workers, of either party, are conscientious about following the rules to insure a fair election.

[renate]

50. since it seems from the responses here that in some states, at least, this is true

Shouldn't there be a few more recommendations so this can get onto the Greatest page?
:kick:

[Buns_of_Fire]

51. K'd and R'd. Err on the side of caution, would be my advice. nt