Yes, States Crack Down on Political Wear at Polls Amid Election Season

As early voting for the 2024 general election commences nationwide, confusion surrounding election attire has surfaced. Viral posts depict voters claiming they were turned away due to political clothing, igniting widespread debate.

Instances shared online include a woman allegedly forbidden to wear a Trump t-shirt while voting and another man stating his family was asked to remove “Make America Great Again” hats in New Jersey. A Reddit user recounted being told to cover an anti-Trump shirt in Illinois. Meanwhile, some voters have been spotted wearing shirts supporting Kamala Harris without issue.

This raised a question for VERIFY reader Natalie: Are there laws against wearing political attire at polling places?

THE ANSWER

Yes, numerous states have regulations regarding political attire at the polls.

WHAT WE FOUND

The permissibility of wearing political apparel when voting varies by state. Each state enacts its own electioneering laws aimed at preserving neutrality at polling locations. These regulations are designed to prevent any influence on voters during elections.

Specifically, twenty-two states prohibit clothing that references candidates, parties, or policies. The remaining states have general electioneering laws, which may implicitly ban certain attires based on the enforcement by local officials.

States with explicit bans on political attire include:

• Arkansas
• California
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Maine
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Vermont

In these states, voters must either cover or remove any political clothing before entering polling sites. Notable exceptions, such as in Maine, permit campaign buttons as long as they are under three inches in diameter.

States like Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Louisiana do not specifically address attire but prohibit the display of political material. Local officials may still interpret electioneering laws to include clothing depending on context.

Conversely, a few states, including Maryland, allow political apparel provided certain conditions are met. In Maryland, wearing campaign items is permissible as long as the voter does not linger near the polling area.

To determine the electioneering rules in your area, consult local election officials or visit the National Association of Secretaries of State for a comprehensive overview.

This report is also available in Spanish.