Flagstaff, Arizona, held a Mayoral election on May 18. At one polling place, a voter came in wearing a shirt that said “Flagstaff Tea Party – Reclaiming Our Constitution.” The only other text on the shirt was “We the People.”
Polling place officials told her she must cover up her shirt, or leave the room. Then, because she was the only voter present, she was permitted to vote without covering up the shirt, but she was warned that she must not wear such clothing to vote in the future. However, the Tea Party is not a ballot-qualified party, has no candidates of its own, and furthermore the election was non-partisan. The Institute for Justice has filed a complaint and seeks a declaration that the action at that polling place was incorrect. See this story.
Was one of the candidates for mayor identified, no matter how informally, with the Tea Party? The fact that the election was nominally non-partisan is not necessarily relevant. The relevant fact is whether the message had anything to do with one of the candidates or ballot measures.
I once wore a “Libertarian Party” shirt when I voted in a local non-partisan election. One of the officials mentioned to me that I may not be able to wear it during an upcoming big partisan presidential and statewide election.
btw – to address Bob Richard’s good question, none of the candidates or issues on my ballot had any connection with Libertarians.
At the next election I compromised and wore a shirt with the Statue of Liberty but no wording. Actually Lady Liberty was (is now too) a symbol for the Libertaian Party, but no official said anything!
k…
p.s.: many thanx again Mr. Winger for keeping us all up to date with these interesting developments (and commentary) from not just the fifty states but the planet too!
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I was told in a past election in CT that I could not have a list that I wrote with the proper spelling of write in candidate name but in Waterbury Mike Jarjura passed out pencils that said “Jarjura the Write choice” and that did not seam to be a problem. I guess it depends on who you are.
citizen1 (#4), it depends on who you are”. A lot depends on the thoroughness and consistency of poll worker training. Once they arrive at the polling place, poll workers have a lot of autonomy. They’re right a lot of the time, but not all the time.
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That is wrong. I am certain people come wearing t-shirts that are profane or political in other ways. Those in charge need to leave their political party leanings outside the room if they are going to be working.
I dont think there is any method to handle immigration in the US without race being perceived as an issue. At some point we do need to enforce the law of the land. Some groups are going to have hurt feelings, but for the present, this is necessary.