Capital Rants

Hooray for buttons and pins

By MARK FRANKLIN

Iron out the wrinkles in those Obama T-shirts. Polish those McCain buttons. You just might be able to wear them when you head out to vote on Nov. 4.

When the Pennsylvania Department of State first advised counties that they might want to loosen up on their stance on political attire in the polling place, the first reaction from Nikki Suchanic, York County’s director of elections, was something to the effect of, “Oh, no you don’t.”

T-shirts, buttons, pins and the similar items supporting a particular candidate had been prohibited in York County polling places, and that wasn’t about to change, she said.

A couple weeks later, after consultation with the county attorney, there’s been a change of heart.

And that’s for the best.

The county had banned such items because that state elections code prohibits “electioneering” in polling places. But it was a stretch to argue that someone showing up to vote wearing an Obama T-shirt or a McCain button was doing any real electioneering, and the state told the counties as much.

And let’s remember, that advice came after some citizen complaints, and after some nudging from the ACLU, which hinted that such a ban just might violate voters’ First Amendment rights.

Should the counties stick to their bans, could a court challenge be far behind? Would York County like to wind up spending lots of money to defend that policy? Just to keep voters from showing pride in their preferred presidential candidate and some good ol’ Election Day enthusiasm?

Probably not.

Next, voters need to do their part, which includes being courteous and respectful toward voters who show up wearing T-shirts, pins and buttons supporting the opposition candidate.