Oct 25
TYLER, Texas — Smith County election officials are reminding voters to avoid campaigning and electioneering while inside polling locations.
A statement released by the Smith County Commissioners Court is warning voters of wearing political apparel while inside polling locations. Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon said they are seeing several individuals wearing political shirts and caps when they show up to vote, which they are being asked to remove or change before casting their ballot.
Early voting and election day polling place must be organized with 100-foot distance markers posted at surrounding outside entrances of the building. During the voting period, it is prohibited to electioneer, which includes expressing preference for or against any candidate, measure or political party (regardless of if it is on the ballot) in the marked area, according to Tex. Elec. Code §§ 61.003, 85.036.
On September 30, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a final judgment in Ostrewich v. Hudspeth, et al., a lawsuit challenging the electioneering provisions in Sections 61.003, 61.010, and 85.036 of the Texas Election Code to the extent that such provisions related to voters’ apparel during voting. The lawsuit was based on the United States Supreme Court case of Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, 138 S. Ct. 1876 (2018).
Based on the district court’s ruling, a person may not wear apparel or a similar communicative device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot in the current election under Section 61.010, but a person may wear such apparel relating to a candidate, measure, or political party that does not appear on the ballot in the current election.
难道批评川粉太刺骨了，被河蟹了？