Campaign paraphernalia is everywhere nowadays. People are sporting T-shirts, hats and pins touting their candidate of choice. But wearing your political allegiances can cause a problem at the polls.
In some states, what you wear to the voting booth could determine whether you are allowed to vote or be sent home to change.
Virginia’s State Board of Elections has banned campaign clothing and other paraphernalia from inside all polling places on Election Day. In the past, it had been done only sporadically.
“We want to take this important step to make sure that the rules are applied uniformly throughout Virginia,” said the board’s James Alcorn.
In a two-to-one vote, the board said it was seeking to strike a balance between free speech and zones free of distractions and harassment.
