2 years ago
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)--There's an email chain going on right now saying you can't wear shirts, hats, buttons etc. into the voting booth if they have the name or image of your favorite candidate.
How accurate is this email? Well it depends on your jurisdiction.
9NEWS NOW contacted the various boards of elections in the area. Here is what they tell us:
VIRGINIA
The commonwealth does NOT allow people to wear any clothing or buttons that have a candidate's name or image on it.
According to Valerie Jones, with the Virginia State Board of Elections, commonwealth law states there can be no campaigning within 40 feet of a polling place's entrance. This includes people going to the polls to vote.
Jones says if someone shows up to a polling place wearing any items with a candidate image/name, the voter will be asked to remove or cover up the item. She says polling places are being advised to "work with" voters if cases arise.
"We want everyone who is eligible to vote, to have the opportunity to vote, " says Jones. "We will work with you."
MARYLAND
In the "Free State" voters ARE allowed to wear clothing or buttons with a candidate's name or image into the polls. However the same can NOT be said for poll workers, election judges or others stationed inside a polling place.
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections "Rumor Control" website:
"A voter may wear campaign paraphernalia (buttons, t-shirts, or stickers) into the polling place while he or she is there to vote (the voter may not linger in the polling place after voting). However, an election judge, challenger and watcher, or other person stationed inside the polling place or within 100 feet of the polling place may not wear or display campaign materials."
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
In D.C. you can NOT wear clothes, buttons, stickers etc. with your favorite candidate's name or image.
As in Virginia, the city has a 40 foot rule.
Dan Murphy, with the DC Board of Elections and Ethics, tells 9NEWS NOW, this law was challenged back in 1998 and was upheld.
Murphy encourages all voters to play it safe and not wear the items. However, he adds, "If a voter does show up with something not allowed, they will be asked to remove it or cover it up. It will be November, so hopefully people will have coats."
Murphy says as soon as a voter is done casting their ballot, they can go outside and put their hats and buttons back on and take off their jackets, as long as they are respecting the 40 foot rule.
