If you don't learn this important rule before heading to your local polling station, you may not be allowed to cast your vote
The One Thing You Shouldn’t Do on Election Day
Published on Oct. 09, 2024
No matter which side of the aisle you’re on, there’s a lot at stake in the upcoming election. Of course, we want to make sure our voices are heard on everything from the economy to our fundamental rights as U.S. citizens to the overall direction of the country. But before you head to the polls to vote for the next U.S. president and other government officials, you need to know one very important election rule—or you might not be able to cast your vote.
While Election Day is still a few weeks away—it falls on Tuesday, Nov. 5 this year—early voting has already opened up in some locations across the country. Read on to find out what you need to keep in mind before heading to your designated polling location so you don’t run into unexpected problems.
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What shouldn’t you do on Election Day?
Even though you may want to shout your choice of presidential nominee from the rooftops, you shouldn’t wear any apparel, stickers or buttons advocating for that person at a voting site. In certain states, this could actually constitute electioneering, which is a fancy word for campaigning, and in some states, it’s illegal.
“The polling place should be a neutral space,” says Wendy Underhill, director of elections and redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), an organization that represents the legislatures in states, territories and commonwealths of the United States. “We don’t want anyone to feel like this is not the space for them. You don’t want to intimidate people who are not of the same political persuasion, and you don’t want to influence them.”
So whether you own a “Yes She Can” T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of Kamala Harris or a bright red MAGA hat, keep it at home on Election Day—or any other time you decide to vote.
Which states prohibit this?
Twenty-one states prohibit voters from donning campaign apparel, buttons or stickers when voting or visiting polling locations, according to the NCSL. Those states include:
- Arkansas
- California
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
And it’s not just inside the polling area that’s a potential problem. The states that enforce these apparel laws prohibit electioneering between 50 to 250 feet of where you’re voting too. In Arkansas, for example, it is also considered “unlawful” for campaign banners, signs or literature to be placed on vehicles near the polling area, and in Delaware, even the “political discussion of issues, candidates or partisan topics” is not OK.
In case you were wondering, you’re not necessarily in the clear in states without these apparel restrictions. Most other states also have electioneering rules against “influencing voters” and “soliciting votes” within a certain distance from the polls to prevent what could be perceived as voter intimidation.
The bottom line? “The campaigning stops at the border outside the polling place,” Underhill says. “The only stickers you can see there are the ‘I voted’ stickers.”
What happens if you don’t abide by the rules?
If you fail to follow your state’s guidelines, election officials might turn you away from the polling site, which means you won’t be able to cast your vote. But that’s not all—if you flagrantly disregard the rules, you could be slapped with a misdemeanor charge, resulting in fines, an appearance before a judge and, depending on your state’s laws, up to a year of jail time.
Before things get to that point, though, election officials will make several attempts to ask you to cover these campaigning materials. For example, they might ask you to put on a jacket or turn your apparel inside out.
How can you learn the rules in your state?
You can check the specific rules for your state on the NSCL site. And if you’re still not sure what’s permitted in your region on Election Day, check with your local election officials via the U.S. Vote Foundation.
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on election rules, Rachel Maresca Patterson tapped her experience as a longtime journalist covering news, lifestyle and entertainment. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Wendy Underhill, director of elections and redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
- NCSL: “Electioneering Prohibitions Near Polling Places”
