October 22, 2008
Alm77 Asked:Keith, I saw this on CNN: [Link to story][1] Are we going to run into issues like this in Kansas??The issue Alm is asking about is known as electioneering and it is against the law in Kansas and we do have one of the stricter electioneering laws in the country. Snoops, CNN and other sites have really created a minor panic amongst voters. This law has been on the books in Kansas since 1974. So, this isn't the first election we have had this law on the books, and I am not aware of any major issues* we have ever had with this law. It is common for voters to show up wearing pins, stickers, hats, and t-shirts of the candidates that they support. Here is exactly what we tell our poll workers during training. If a voter shows up at a polling location with a pin, sticker, or hat of a candidate ask the voter to take them off. If they show up with a candidate t-shirt, or candidate sweatshirt ask them to turn them inside out, or cover them with a jacket. All you need to do is follow the directions of the poll workers and remove the pin, sticker or hat, turn your shirt or sweatshirt inside out or cover it. You do these things and there will be no issues and you can vote. We have had several people come to the counter to do in-person advance voting, everyone has been very nice and cooperative and everyone voted. It is just as simple as that.What this law is really intending to do is to give you a voting environment that is free from candidates and supporters trying to influence, intimidate or harass you while you are trying to get into your polling place or while you are trying to cast your ballot. Can you imagine getting your ballot handed to you and a candidate walking over and asking for your vote? In Missouri, the law allows for candidates and supporters to stand in front of a polling location. Basically this forces you to navigate through a maze of people trying to talk you into voting for their candidate or their issue. I kind of like the way we do it in Kansas, and I think it is nice to be able to go to your polling location unmolested. If you ever do have a problem, just call our office. We can't address a problem we don't know about. * The law requires a 250 feet buffer from the entrance of the polling place. We have a private yards that can qualify, so they can't put yard signs, which doesn't make the homeowner too happy. Here is the law for those who are interested.25-2430 Chapter 25.--ELECTIONS Article 24.--ELECTION CRIMES 25-2430. Electioneering. (a) Electioneering is knowingly attempting to persuade or influence eligible voters to vote for or against a particular candidate, party or question submitted. Electioneering includes wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election or clearly indicate support or opposition to a question submitted election within any polling place on election day or advance voting site during the time period allowed by law for casting a ballot by advance voting or within a radius of 250 feet from the entrance thereof. Electioneering shall not include bumper stickers affixed to a motor vehicle that is used to transport voters to a polling place or to an advance voting site for the purpose of voting. (b) As used in this section, "advance voting site" means the central county election office or satellite advance voting sites designated as such pursuant to subsection (c) of K.S.A. 25-1122, and amendments thereto. (c) Electioneering is a class C misdemeanor. History: L. 1974, ch. 157, § 24; L. 2001, ch. 125, § 3; April 26. [1]: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/10/21/jones.nm.voter.turned.away.mxf.koat
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lori (anonymous) says...
Here's my question--what if your work/school place ends up being a polling place?My daughter's school is a polling place. Can she wear her Obama pin on her backpack that day? My husband teaches, he used to have a briefcase with a political sticker on it. During one election, a poll worker gave him a hard time about it. What rights does he or other people who work or go to school at polling places have on election days? Are they supposed to also abide by these rules, even though they are there to work or go to school, and not vote? These places have a primary function that has nothing to do with politics. Just curious.
October 23, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smerdyakov (anonymous) says...
What is your office/phone number?
October 23, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alm77 (anonymous) says...
Keith, thanks so much for the info!! Hopefully this can prevent some incidents and help keep order at the polls.
October 23, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )