Two Voters Sue Texas Over Apparel Restrictions at Polling Places

Texas law bans voters from wearing anything to the polls that has a political message. A federal lawsuit was filed on February 28, 2019, by two voters who were told last year that their apparel was not permitted. One voter was wearing a T-shirt that mentioned the Houston Fire Fighters, and another voter was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. The voter with the T-shirt was told to turn it inside out, and the voter with the hat was told to remove it. The Fire Fights shirt was deemed political because the Houston Fire Fighters Union was engaged in the campaign for a voter measure.

The case, Ostrewich v Trautman, s.d., 4:19cv-715, is before U.S. District Court Judge David Hittner, a Reagan appointee. Here is the Complaint.

Green Party Places Second in Germany European Union Election

On May 26, elections were held for European Union Parliament in many countries. In Germany, the Green Party placed second, winning 21 seats. By contrast, the Social Democratic Party, long considered one of the two “major” parties in Germany, polled 16 seats. The alliance of the Christian Democratic Union plus its Bavarian partner, the Christian Social Union, placed first with 29 seats. See the wikipedia article.