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| Tue, Nov. 10 - - Mobile - RSS | |
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CAMPAIGN ENDS OUTSIDE POLLS
It's up to local voting officials how to enforce ban on buttons, stickers, T-shirts at polling places
Date published: 11/1/2008
BY RUSTY DENNEN It might be a good idea to leave the McCain-Palin button, or the Obama-Biden T-shirt, at home on Election Day. That's because such political paraphernalia is banned from polling places. Area voter registrars emphasize that no one will be turned away Tuesday, but--depending upon the locality--some people might be asked to remove it, cover up or cast a vote in a designated area. In a political season charged with emotion, people want to express their preferences. But the state doesn't want any undue pressure on those in the proximity of voting machines. "For the most part, we're hoping that people will abide by the law," said King George County Registrar Lorrie Gump. "It is a touchy situation, but no one will be turned away from voting." She said that signs will be posted. Stafford County Registrar Sharon Persinger also hopes "the voters will be civil." Persinger said election officials will offer pieces of paper that can cover political attire. She added that poll workers probably will be so busy they won't have time to notice anyway. Spotsylvania County Registrar Kellie Acors said officials there will be "pretty lenient." She said as long as voters are in line and not causing a commotion, they should be permitted to vote. Louisa County Registrar Chris Watkins said voters are aware of the rules. "We've been enforcing it for several years," she said. Political parties' representatives will have nonpolitical T-shirts and jackets for people to wear if they need to cover up. In Fredericksburg, voters who insist on wearing political attire will be given an optical-scan ballot on which to vote outside the polling room. Election officials from both major parties will "I think most will adhere to our request," she said. Ryan Enright, a spokesman for the State Board of Elections, said yesterday that the policy was put in place to ensure uniformity across the state. "It's a hard line to draw of when a person is being distracting or intimidating" to others casting their ballots, he said. What to do in any particular situation, he added, is up to local election officials. The issue was raised in October when the Board of Elections sought to clarify the prohibition against "exhibiting campaign materials to another person" at a polling place as including a ban on attire expressing a particular view on political parties or candidates. That change was challenged this week by three Virginia-based free-speech organizations. The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, the Rutherford Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia said they'll mount a legal challenge, arguing that the policy violates voters' First Amendment rights. They contend the new guidelines "created confusion for election officials and voters alike." Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Date published: 11/1/2008
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