September 30, 2008
Don't Wear Your Obama T-shirt to the Polls
With less than a week left to register to vote in the general election for most area voters (the deadline in the District and Virginia is Oct. 6; Maryland is Oct. 14), the DC Board of Elections of Ethics released a reminder yesterday that electioneering laws apply to enthusiastic voters as well as campaign volunteers. It might seem obvious to most of you, but apparently some voters are confused on the issue:
D.C. Municipal Regulations sections 708.4, 708.5 and 708.8 cover restrictions on “political activity” within 50 feet of the entrance of a building used for voting. Section 708.8 clearly states that “the term ‘political activity’ shall include without limitation, any activity intended to persuade a person to vote for or against any candidate or measure...”Keep this in mind as Nov. 4 draws ever closer.
This means that if a voter is showing an outward sign of support for a candidate (i.e. wearing hats, buttons, t-shirts, etc.) the voter will be asked to remove or cover the article before entering the polling place.
There's very little time left to register to vote in the District, in Virginia or in Maryland.
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Wow. That is ironically very anti-American.
Also, if you go to the polls without really knowing who you're going to vote for and could be potentially swayed by someone's paraphernalia, then your intelligence should be questioned.
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Might be a little chilly in November for a T-shirt, MAYBE!
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Well I as a random sample of the masses had no idea about this. Anyways, good luck trying to enforce that. I doubt it would be pretty.
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My John McCain butt plug is still okay, right?
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If 200,000 Obama supporters in the District show up to vote in their t-shirts, John McCain could win the three electoral votes. Maybe!
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with the amount of barack t-shirts, hats, and pins that people have around here (and stickers on bags, etc.), this could be a real problem if they actually tried to enforce it on nov. 4th. i get the feeling, in the district at least, that there will be little to no effort to keep people from outwardly displaying affection for obama.
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Can you vote without a shirt on?
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I'm handing out "Geezer-Dipshit" t-shirts outside the polls, along with "Sarah Palin is an Idiot" bumper stickers
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Yes, what is the dress code for voting? So far we know one rule.
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FYI, the no Political Shirts/Buttons/Etc. rule applies within the restricted area around Virginia Polling places as well.
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i am still not registered to vote and have been trying to for six months. i won't wear any gear but hope i don't have to fill out a silly provisional ballot. oh and someone from the obama DC office told me that it doesn't even matter if i vote. gee thanks. is this what volunteers are supposed to tell voters and potential volunteers? cynical bastards.
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What if I sport an Obama tatoo on my forehead?
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Oh and by the way, all "__ __ is my homeboy" t-shirts should be banned anyway. What is this, 2003?
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Can I wear a Barack Obama for Illinois State Legislature shirt? How about a John McCain for President (2000) hat?
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How about my "Sarah Palin: she's dumber than a bag of hammers but hey, I'd hit that!" t-shirt?
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How about my "Pallin for VPILF" tee. Can i wear that?
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"What's this? You're wearing the shirt of the band you're going to see? Don't be that guy."
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Oh pulease! Not only am I going to wear my Obama shirt to the polls I am going to wear my Obama hat as well!
Jiff
www.anonweb.eu.tc
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This is to prevent voter intimidation. How would you like it if you showed up to vote and the angry, misogynistic, conservative, "brown shirts" were all wearing their "brown shirts", and you, not being a part of their club, did not wear a "brown shirt". They, of course, would sneer and look down on you, maybe while yelling things like "terrorist!", and "kill em'"...
Keep your clothing neutral, save it for the after-party.
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Oh and Socialism only failed before because the people executing the plan weren't smart enough - this time it will be different! You DC residents deserve your second highest tax rates in the country (which of course go to support the failing schools). Wake up, you can't tax your way to prosperity - it has to be earned (not paid, earned) to be sustainable.