Flying to vote

Lately I have received numerous emails telling me what I can and cannot do at the polls. Some of the messages sounded unrealistic and others, I was not so sure about. I am keeping my commitment and doing more research on the candidates and the election process than I am on my fantasy football team.

Almost all states and many county election offices have good Web sites and toll-free phone numbers where you can find more specific answers. The National Association of Secretaries of State also has a Web site, http://www.canivote.org/, where voters can check their registration status online, find their polling site and get other useful voting information specific to their state or county. Please check your voter status. Many people have been taken off the roles for various reasons. Do not be disappointed when you go to the polls.

The latest message I received was that if I voted a straight ticket, this did not involve the president. Yes, in my mind that sounded silly, but in light of what is at stake during this election I decided to check it out. I am glad I did. Apparently there is an old state law that claimed. That law is no longer in effect.

Many South Carolina voters have received a chain e-mail containing incorrect information regarding straight party voting. The basic claim is that straight party voting does not apply to President. The information in this e-mail is based on old state law that is no longer in effect.

The Truth:
Straight party voting applies to President and all other partisan offices on the ballot.

I think we have all been sent this message:

I was told that it's illegal to wear any campaign 'paraphernalia' to the voting booth, even if it is simply a button or a T-shirt for your candidate. I was also told that if you wore this 'paraphernalia,' they can legally turn you away from voting. Is this true?"

Many people asked similar questions, and unfortunately, the answer differs from state to state. In South Carolina, for example, voters are not allowed to wear any campaign paraphernalia, including T-shirts, at the polls. Alabama has no such clothing restrictions, though you can't loiter at the polls or leave any campaign material inside the polling place. In states that forbid campaign wear, officials usually will just ask the voter to remove the hat or button, and either cover up the shirt or turn it inside out. But in San Diego County, they've purchased several dozen paper smocks that voters can use to cover up any political messages. Otherwise, those voters will have to go home and change. It's best to check with your election office for the local rules, or else keep the campaign gear at home.
This was taken from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95573939&ft=1&f=3.

But again, call your election office to verify anything that sounds weird to you!

I looked this one up under South Carolina and this is what I found at http://www.scvotes.org/2008/09/25/display_of_campaign_material_not_allowed_at_polls

The display of campaign material is not allowed within 200 feet of any entrance to a polling place on election day. This law applies to any type of visual display of campaign material, including posters, pamphlets, brochures, signs, buttons, hats, t-shirts, etc. Voters displaying campaign material who enter the 200-foot area will be asked to remove the material, cover the material, or otherwise cause the material not to be seen.

Please see the applicable section of the S.C. Code of Laws posted below:

SECTION 7-25-180. Unlawful distribution of campaign literature.

(A) It is unlawful on an election day within two hundred feet of any entrance used by the voters to enter the polling place for a person to distribute any type of campaign literature or place any political posters. The poll manager shall use every reasonable means to keep the area within two hundred feet of any such entrance clear of political literature and displays, and the county and municipal law enforcement officers, upon request of a poll manager, shall remove or cause to be removed any material within two hundred feet of any such entrance distributed or displayed in violation of this section.

(B) A candidate may wear within two hundred feet of the polling place a label no larger than four and one-fourth inches by four and one-fourth inches that contains the candidate's name and the office he is seeking. If the candidate enters the polling place, he may not display any of this identification including, but not limited to, campaign stickers or buttons.

The key is to not let anyone turn you away from the polls. Know your rights, especially if you are or know a convicted felon. I always thought that felons lost their right to vote forever. I was mistaken. There are only two states that have that rule.

Here is a listing of CRIMINAL DISENFRANCHISEMENT LAWS
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES taken from http://media.npr.org/programs/day/features/2008/oct/laws.pdf

Permanent disenfranchisement for all people with felony convictions, unless government approves individual rights restoration
KY, VA

Permanent disenfranchisement for at least some people with criminal convictions, unless government approves individual rights restoration
AL, AZ, DE, FL, MS, NV, TN, WY

Voting rights restored upon completion of sentence, including prison, parole, and probation
AK, AR, GA, ID, IA, KS, LA, MD, MN, MO, NE,* NJ, NM, NC, OK, SC, TX, WA, WV, WI

Voting rights restored automatically after release from prison and discharge from parole (probationers may vote)
CA, CO, CT, NY, SD

Voting rights restored automatically after release from prison
DC, HI, IL, IN, MA, MI, MT, NH, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, UT

No disenfranchisement for people with criminal convictions
ME, VT

* Nebraska imposes a two-year waiting period after completion of sentence.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!