OH my God--man arrested in our town for political bumperstickers?

[Horse with no Name]

We have had a VERY tense sheriff race in our town. It was resolved last night by a 29 vote margin--hardly a mandate.
Anyway...one of the supporters of a new county hierarchy went to vote and WAS arrested for displaying political signs (stickers) too close to the voting poll. This has been a man that has been VERY vocal in a change.
Please understand--I voted in a church. The only parking available was 10 feet from the door.
Jeeminy cricket--this is going to get uglier than it has been.

[bmcatt]

1. Funny definition of "electioneering", then

Granted that there's (usually?) a law against electioneering within <N> feet of a polling place, but I'm unaware that that extends to bumper stickers. Hopefully someone checked the other vehicles that were parked within the prohibited zone and ensured that none of them were displaying any political stickers, etc.?

[Horse with no Name]

2. I've never heard of such nonsense

I just heard from someone else that another man that was very vocal for change was just arrested this morning for back child support (not condoning this--but very strange nonetheless).

[bmcatt]

7. No, really - you can't endorse a candidate within feet

Not sure about the specifics (and I believe they may vary state-to-state), but there really is a restriction about any sort of campaigning within a certain distance of the polling place.

Arresting someone for a bumper sticker on their car, though, definitely seems a bit over the top. After all, they could have just as easily told him that he had to move his car because he was in violation.

Note that I'm (hopefully obviously) not advocating what happened. By the same token, though, the restriction *is* a good thing and should be enforced. I'm just very curious as to whether they were quite so thorough about checking *every* vehicle that was within the no-electioneering zone.

The other (arrested for back child support) definitely sounds like vindictive / vengeful enforcement, though.

[ripple]

13. Yep.

I was asked (told, actually) to remove the Kerry/Edwards button I was wearing when I voted in 2004.

[Initech]

3. It's not really new since it's been a law in CA for YEARS

You cant wear or display anything that indicates your political affiliation near a polling place.

But yeah this is scary. I predict this law will be heavily enforced come the 2006 elections.

[Horse with no Name]

5. Like I said

We are a very small town. IF the only parking available violates the law, then I guess everyone will have to remove bumperstickers before voting.
Wow.

[valerief]

11. Hey, you can start a new cottage industry--bumper sticker covers

that Velcro over bumpers. Git yer Fascist Zone Bumper Covers heah!

[Roland99]

9. I plan on wearing solid BLUE in November!

[meisje]

4. Was it this guy?

If the car was covered with political stickers, it would be electioneering, which is illegal in most places.

[Horse with no Name]

6. LOL

Wow--now that is "committment".:crazy:

[Roland99]

10. Makes me worried about my own safety now.

:scared:

[onehandle]

8. Laws like that are very common.

Usually people are just asked to remove buttons, repark cars.

If he was "very vocal", maybe he refused.

[DUHandle]

12. There were Bush/Cheney signs on the lawn

of the church were I vote.

I complained at the polls and a worker they went out to check on it.

She told me that distance requirement is from the polls to the sign/advertisement.

I complained further that they were too close to the door and she told me that it doesn’t matter, the distance is from the sign/advertisement to the place where the votes are cast.

I took the signs down myself, since a church will have some tax problems for supporting a candidate.

[Dr.Phool]

14. In Land O' Lakes Florida, during 2004 voting

A polling place supervisor was passing out Christian Coalition voting guides inside the polling place. A church, by the way.

[Rocknrule]

15. Was it this one?

http://www.bettybowers.com/2004ccvoterguide.html

[Bassic]

16. Well, I hope the guy sues for wrongful arrest.

We can NOT let this kind of thing stand.

[Horse with no Name]

17. I hate to disillusion anyone

But these were DEMOCRATS.:(

[Bassic]

18. That doesen't make it right.

I assume you're saying the culprits are democrats? That saddens me but this kind of craps only feeds the Repubs talking points machine.

[DUHandle]

19. It doesn't matter

the voting process should clean.

[jsamuel]

20. If that is what the law says...

and he broke it, then there isn't much to be done. Now if you can show me that he was unfairly discriminated against, then you might have a case, but it seems legal from what you said.