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A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 15 June 2018

Justices strike down Minnesota voter clothing restrictions

By JESSICA GRESKO provisions in state law will
WASHINGTON (AP) — The still bar voters from wearing
Supreme Court on Thursday apparel that promotes
struck down Minnesota's a candidate or party or
broad restrictions on voters that might be considered
wearing "political" hats, misleading to voters.
T-shirts and pins to the polls, The case before the
but said states can place Supreme Court dates
limits on such apparel. back to 2010 and involves
Minnesota contended a dispute that began
the restrictions were over tea party T-shirts
reasonable, kept and buttons with the
order at polling places words "Please I.D. Me," a
and prevented voter reference to legislation
intimidation. But the then under discussion in
justices, in a 7-2 ruling, said Minnesota that would have
the state's limits on political required residents to show
clothing violate the free photo identification to
speech clause of the First vote. The legislation didn't
Amendment. become law.
Chief Justice John Roberts Pointing to the state's
wrote that "if a State wishes statute, Minnesota officials
to set its polling places apart said before the election
as areas free of partisan that neither the tea party
discord, it must employ a T-shirts nor those buttons
more discernible approach In this Feb. 16, 2018, photo, Andy Cilek poses with a Tea Party shirt at his home in Eden Prairie, would be permitted at the
than the one Minnesota Minn. polls. In response, a group
has offered here." Associated Press of voters and organizations
At another point he wrote: sued.
"Casting a vote is a weighty That was the part of state referencing the movement California bars voters from J. David Breemer, a lawyer
civic act, akin to a jury's law that was challenged to increase awareness of wearing anything with with the Pacific Legal
return of a verdict or a and invalidated by the sexual harassment and a "candidate's name, Foundation, the group
representative's vote on court. assault?" Roberts wrote. likeness or logo" or a behind the challenge,
a piece of legislation. It is Roberts said the problem Justices Sonia Sotomayor "ballot measure's number, said the court "put all
a time for choosing, not came down to the word and Stephen Breyer would title, subject, or logo," government entities on
campaigning. The State "political," which state law have sent the case to the Roberts said, and Texas notice — they cannot
may reasonably decide didn't define. He said the Minnesota Supreme Court prohibits wearing anything dictate the terms of
that the interior of the state's interpretation of for clarification of the law's connected to a political personal expression, nor
polling place should reflect what counted as political boundaries. party appearing on the can they designate the
that distinction." was unreasonable, It is unclear exactly how ballot. arbiters of free speech at
Most states restrict what covering any item that many states the ruling could Daniel Rogan, who their whim."
people can wear when made reference to a affect. Both Minnesota and defended Minnesota's law The Supreme Court has
they vote, but Minnesota's group with recognizable the group challenging the before the justices, said that previously backed some
restraints were some of the political views or referring state's law had said there while he was disappointed restrictions on voters' free
broadest. State law bars to any subject on which a are about 10 states with by the justices' conclusion, speech rights at the polls.
voters from casting a ballot political candidate or party laws similar to Minnesota's, there was a lot in the In 1992, the court upheld
while wearing clothing has taken a stance. though they disagreed opinion "we're very pleased a Tennessee statute
related to a campaign, "Would a 'Support Our significantly on which ones. about." Secretary of State prohibiting the display or
such as a T-shirt with the Troops' shirt be banned, Roberts said other states Steve Simon, a Democrat, distribution of campaign
name of a candidate. It if one of the candidates have laws that describe said he would work with the materials within 100 feet of
also said voters couldn't or parties had expressed restrictions "in more lucid Legislature, which returns a polling place.
wear a "political badge, a view on military funding terms" than Minnesota's, in January, to pass new The case is 16-1435
political button, or other or aid for veterans? What referencing laws in voter apparel legislation. Minnesota Voters Alliance
political insignia" to vote. about a '#MeToo' shirt, California and Texas. And Rogan said other v. Mansky.q