Saturday, October 18, 2008

It isn't free speech when you have to change your shirt to vote

"The [Virginia] State Board of Elections yesterday voted 2-1 to ban clothing, hats, buttons or other paraphernalia that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a candidate or issue inside polling places.

The board said its action strikes a balance between the First Amendment right to free speech and the right of people to cast secret ballots in a safe, orderly way free of undue influence or harassment."

So, lets get this straight: I have a First Amendment right to walk around election day with an Obama shirt on, and I have the right to vote - but if I want to do both I have to get changed? And how exactly are expression rights balanced here? It sounds to me like they just got outweighed . . . . . Sue the bastards.

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.o
rg/news.aspx?id=20706

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