Posted on 02/28/2018 10:59:30 AM PST by jazusamo
The Supreme Court took a dim view Wednesday of Minnesotas law banning voters from wearing political apparel to vote on Election Day, with liberal justices questioning where to draw the line and conservatives wondering who got to decide what is political in the first place.
Minnesota said it has a legitimate state interest in ensuring decorum inside polling places and integrity during the election process.
But Andrew Cilek, a Minnesota voter, contends the law is overly broad and almost prevented him from voting in the 2010 election because he wore a Tea Party Patriots T-shirt and a button asking poll workers to ID him.
This court has never upheld a prohibition this broad, said J. David Breemer, the attorney for Mr. Cilek. A lot of this material isnt worn for advocacy, but for self-expression.
Several justices questioned Mr. Breemer about where to draw a line, so that Minnesotas law protects decorum and integrity at the ballot box while still giving individuals the right to express themselves under the First Amendment.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
LOL
That seems to be the state’s position...
What is the compelling government interest in allowing such censorship? That is yet another element that Supreme Courts have examined. Just exactly what is at risk if a person wearing a shirt that supports a candidate appears at a voting place?
If a person chooses to have a candidate's name tattooed on his forehead does he forfeit his right to vote? Must he cover his face? Why not insist that people who can't tolerate seeing such advocacy avert their vision?
Perhaps we could have special voting precincts set up for those who can't tolerate free expression?
I don't find it so clear because election signs (vote Smith for ...) are banned a certain distance (not very far) from polling places. Bit it's not as clear what a T-shirt could or could not say.
What if it says...Hi, My name is Boris.
Not me, even if he had HILLARY tattooed on his bare ass........ain't going to affect my vote.
IN NJ you cannot wear political shirt or buttons in polling location. Voters & poll workers.
Challengers wear official badges issued by county
The funny thing is that public opinion polls do swing after debates. Why? Who is actually going to change their vote because someone is a better debater than someone else as opposed to having a guiding political philosophy that more closely matches their own?
Freegards
>>The funny thing is that public opinion polls do swing after debates. <<
But T-shirts rarely carry the day.
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