On October 28, several Minnesota organizations jointly filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, seeking the ability to have their members, who would be both ordinary voters and poll watchers, wear certain kinds of buttons or shirts. Specifically, Election Integrity Watch wants its activists to be allowed to wear buttons that say “Please I.D. Me”, whether they are at the polls briefly in order to vote, or whether they are serving as election monitors.
Also, members of the Northstar Tea Party want their members to be allowed to wear shirts that say “Tea Party Patriots” when they vote.
The lawsuit asks that a Minnesota election law either be declared unconstitutional, or construed to allow these buttons and shirts. The law says, “A political badge, political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the polling place on primary or election day.” The complaint points out that there is no Tea Party on the ballot in Minnesota, and that the buttons and shirts do not relate to any particular candidate or ballot measure that is on the ballot. See this story. The lawsuit is Minnesota Majority v Mansky, 10-cv-4401.
I am always a little amused by the law in other states, in Maine where i live, the although campaigning near the polling place is not allowed you can wear shirts, buttons, etc while you vote, so long as you come in vote and then lease
Given that candidate Michele Bachmann started the now-official “Tea Party” caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, and has continually sponsored and spoken at “Tea Party” events, it seems obviously disingenuous to say now that the label “Tea Party” has nothing to do with any particular candidates on the ballot.
What is next ??? Nude voting with NO tattoos allowed ???
I think banning non-candidate clothing is stupid. But if they ban the wearing of tea party clothing if they ban people wearing union clothing, which they will not do.