Why you can’t wear, bring political gear to a polling place in these states

(NEXSTAR) – Regardless of the campaign signs in your yard or how much you support a candidate, any outward support of that person or party may throw a wrench in your plans to vote for them.

More than half of U.S. states do not allow voters to wear campaign apparel while casting their ballot, while nearly all prohibit signs, banners, or literature near the polling place, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

These restrictions have caused a stir before, specifically in 2024 when then-vice presidential candidate JD Vance weighed in on a photo of a bra-clad woman purportedly voting shirtless after a poll worker told her the Trump campaign shirt she was wearing violated electioneering prohibitions. The woman opted to take the shirt off after firing multiple expletives at the worker.

Electioneering rules are meant to keep people from feeling pressured or intimidated in any way while voting, said Quinn Yeargain, an associate professor of law at Michigan State University.

“This is not something that functions in any way to chill anybody’s free speech,” Yeargain said. “This is to keep polling places neutral locations.”

Be aware of what you wear

Twenty-seven states have rules against campaign wearables, like stickers, shirts, and buttons, according to the NCSL.

Voters wearing “candidate paraphernalia” at Vermont polling........

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