Illegal to Wear Apparel Displaying Certain Things When Voting

Are you excited for the upcoming elections? Or maybe you will be glad when the political ads are over and the election goes your way. We will find out soon enough.

If you have not yet voted (early voting/mail-in votes) you need to be aware of what you are wearing to your polling place and what the rules are for political activities. By the way, for early voting in Broome County, you can vote today - Friday, November 1st up to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, November 2nd, and Sunday, November 3rd from - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For polling places and more information, click HERE.

According to the National Conference of State Legislature website, there are rules in every state in the nation about things like limiting the display of signs, handing out campaign literature, soliciting votes within a pre-determined distance of a polling place, and even restrictions on the type of apparel that a voter is allowed to wear when at the polling place.

Statutory Restrictions On Apparel

New York State is one of 21 states with statutory restrictions on apparel. That includes displaying a political banner, button, poster, or placard shall be allowed in or upon the polling place according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Pennsylvania has no such restriction listed.

Electioneering Prohibitions For New York And Pennsylvania

In New York State, no one is allowed within 100 feet of the entrances to a building where the election is being held with campaign items including apparel, buttons, stickers, placards, and campaign materials including signs, banners, and literature.

Pennsylvania is not quite as restrictive. Campaign materials are prohibited within 10 feet from the polling place for signs, banners, and literature. Influencing voters, soliciting votes, and political persuasion is also prohibited.

Various State Restrictions

Other restrictions from certain states in the U.S. at polling places include prohibiting projecting sounds referring to candidates and issues, polls and exit polls, loitering, peddling and advertising, voter intimidations and interfering with voters, and obstructing the polling entrance and/or hindering the voter.

For more details on restrictions for each state in the U.S., visit the National Conference of State Legislatures website. Here is the most important rule...okay, strong suggestion - get out and vote!

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