You Can’t Vote Wearing Political Messages on T-Shirts

Posted by Ban Shirts

March 10, 2008

A voter wearing a Barack Obama sweatshirt and button was turned away at the polls because of his choice of attire. Bradley Tucker, 25 was headed off vote on march 4th but was immediately approached by a poll worker who asked him not to campaign within the X feet of the polling place. Campaigning is not shouting or talking it can be as simple as just wearing a t-shirt. Mr. Tucker said refused to take off his sweatshirt and surprisingly was allowed to vote by a different poll worker without taking off his sweatshirt and button.

However, he shouldn’t have been able to vote. The Ohio Revised Code chapter 3501.35, states that no person can “solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any elector in casting the elector’s vote.” This story of voters being blocked from voting is not new this year. Another person in Montgomery County was told to hide his Barack Rocks T-shirt before being able to vote.

The biggest issue is that the law is not enforced the same everywhere. Employees of the News Record out of Cincinnati went to multiple polling locations with buttons that had political language and were not confronted to told they could not vote.

Source: The News Record

T-Shirts Banned Voting