In many instances, a voter who wants to carry a firearm to vote is no issue because the polls are located at gun-free schools. But what about a polling place located at a church or municipal building? Under current law, a voter is entitled to strap on his six-shooter. Given that police must stay at least 100' away, this concerns me. Governing reports that very few states regulate firearms at the voter booth.
Here's a quiz.
1) If someone comes into the polls wearing a "Hillary" or "Trump" T-shirt, should he be asked to leave and wear more neutral clothing?
2) Are reporters allowed inside the polls?
3) Is there any problem with a person talking on his cell phone while waiting to vote, or snapping pictures around him?
4) Most the name and party of a person coming in to vote be announced? Isn't the voter entitled to some privacy?
5) What about those annoying people who rush over to you the second you get out of your car? Shouldn't they take a hike?
6) If my father or mother is unable to see, can I go into the voting booth with him and help him vote?
I'll answer these questions tomorrow. If you have additional questions, post them in the comments. If I am unable to answer you, I'll find out from elections officials.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Monday, October 24, 2016
34 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Why are you against the second amendment when someone is voting. Isn't that the point of voting? Is the constable armed?
ReplyDeleteMost are not. I'm fior the right to vote, which comes in front of the second amendment.
ReplyDeleteHow is voting in the first amendment? Also why is the order of the amendments important? That is BS, one is just as important as any other. Are guns banned in a polling place?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the appropriate course of action if a group armed or unarmed shows up at a polling loction with the appearance to intimidate? What actions can a voter take. While I have never seen that in all my years voting, I suspect there is a chance this year given the recent rehtoric.
ReplyDeleteThere is no constitutional right to vote Bernie. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteIf someone tries to intimidate me at the polls, they're going to be seriously injured.
ReplyDelete5:28 I suggest you obtain some red pepper spray and aim for their eyes if you feel threatened in any way by thugs at the polls
ReplyDeleteSince you mentioned candidates Bernie, if I see someone wearing a shirt of a candidate I don't care for, my first instinct is to ignore them as they're not bothering me. If they begin to electioneer, some red pepper spray will end that quickly.
ReplyDeleteYou cane wear a shirt into the polling place to cast your vote, you need to do no political speech while in there, you vote and then you leave. That is all you are allowed to do
ReplyDelete"There is no constitutional right to vote Bernie. Sorry."
ReplyDeleteAre you out of your mind? Voting is the most basic form of expression and is protectedby the first amendment. In addition, four separate Amendments – 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th – se the same powerful language to protect it: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged . . . .”
4:23, I like to think that the amendments are ranked in order of importance, but that's purely my own way of looking at it. I would argue that the First Amendment is the most basic and important of them all, and that all other rights flow from it.
ReplyDeletePlease quote the article in the Constitutions Bernie. You'll find there is no constitutional right to vote. Here is the first amendment, verbatim.
ReplyDeleteCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
Not even a word that begins with a "V". Sorry.
Voting is the most basic form of speech. If spending to influence voters is considered robust speech (See Citizens United), it necessarily follows that the act of voting is itself protected speech.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, and as I pointed out, the right to vote is specifically mentioned in four separate amendments.
The Fifteenth Amendment says the following in Section One
ReplyDeleteSection 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Now it states that the right of citizens to vote will not be denied "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.", however, it does not say a citizen has a "right to vote". It just says that citizens can not be denied the right to vote BY THE STATES for specific reasons. The right is only implied, but not specified elsewhere in the Constitution.
The Nineteenth Amendment is an extension of the Fifteenth, inasmuch:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Again, no specific "right to vote" for all citizens. It just talks about denying an implied right to vote. The 24th and 26th is the same. They presume an implied "right to vote", but nowhere in the constitution does it specifically provide for the right.
The "right to vote" is in the same category as the "right to secede" which was never decided by the supreme court, even after the Civil War, and the Constitution itself is murky about. Now we all understand that the right is implied, and for the history of our republic, that's been the de-facto case, but there is no specific language granting citizens the right to vote.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to get into an extended discussion on this point in a story that is primarily about the conduct of elections, but it is clear that voting is constitutionally protected. Under your twisted view of the 1st amendment, the framers would be obliged to point out what kinds of speech are protected and what kinds are not. I have also referred to four separate amendments containing this language; "“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged . . . .” That necessarily means there is a right to vote.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to twisting our Constitution Mr O'Hare, all one has to do is look at the Obamacare decision by the Supreme Court to determine its Constitutionality. Finding rights that aren't there seem to be a specialty of the Roberts Court.
ReplyDeleteAs I've said, this post is about the conduct of elections, not the constitutionality of Obamacare.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNo comments on Clinton-Trump.
ReplyDeleteAny problem with registering in multiple states and voting absentee in each of them?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete1) If someone comes into the polls wearing a "Hillary" or "Trump" T-shirt, should he be asked to leave and wear more neutral clothing? ---- Answer --- If he or she had a political pin on the shirt - it must come off ... And ne political literature can be handed out at the poll ... It is legal for the voters not the poll workers to wear a political tee --- They can only vote and go
2) Are reporters allowed inside the polls? They are discouraged
3) Is there any problem with a person talking on his cell phone while waiting to vote, or snapping pictures around him? No pictures are supposed to be taken and cell phones are asked to be turned off ...
4) Most the name and party of a person coming in to vote be announced? Isn't the voter entitled to some privacy? This is touchy ... In primaries the party is supposed to be called out of the person voting to allow the machine operator to set up the machine for the proper party ... Separate voting machines for parties are disallowed ... We now have computers and they must be set up too ...Voters are given papers which they give to the machine operator with their party and the machine operator creates a card which they use in the machine with their party on it bringing up the right screen.... But technically the party of the voter still must be announced
5) What about those annoying people who rush over to you the second you get out of your car? Shouldn't they take a hike? Maybe they should but they are allowed to be 10 feet outside the building where the poll is ... As far as signs outside these polls ... Owners of the property where the poll is can restrict or forbid signs
ReplyDelete6) If my father or mother is unable to see, can I go into the voting booth with him and help him vote? Most polls have a device that would allow you father and mother to vote without a video screen ... But voters who have a handicap can bring people into the polling booth to assist them to vote if they sign a document at the polling booth declaring the reason why assistance is needed...
If you are a convicted felon, do you have the right to vote. I don't think so. That kind of puts the "right to vote" theory to rest.
ReplyDeleteFor example can Jim Gregory vote?
ReplyDeleteDon't know if he is a felon or not, just curious.
ReplyDeleteI'll have your answer tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteUnder Pennsylvania law, people with a criminal record who have been released from prison, or who will be freed by the time of the election, are eligible to vote. This is true even if they are on parole or probation. Only those people who are incarcerated on a felony conviction are not allowed to vote.
ReplyDelete1) If someone comes into the polls wearing a "Hillary" or "Trump" T-shirt, should he be asked to leave and wear more neutral clothing? Yes.
ReplyDelete2) Are reporters allowed inside the polls? No.
3) Is there any problem with a person talking on his cell phone while waiting to vote, or snapping pictures around him? Yes.
4) Most the name and party of a person coming in to vote be announced? No. Isn't the voter entitled to some privacy? Yes.
5) What about those annoying people who rush over to you the second you get out of your car? Shouldn't they take a hike? No.
6) If my father or mother is unable to see, can I go into the voting booth with him and help him vote? Yes.
In line with what is and is not allowed at polls maybe someone out there can answer my question. Is Pennsylvania an open carry state? Can you buy a handgun and carry it on your hip in the open without getting a concealed weapons permit?
ReplyDeleteI have repeatedly deleted numerous comments posted anonymously about the a presidential race. This post is not about the merits of the candidates, but about behavior at the polls. I realize you have no respect for anyone, but there are people who are interested in what I write about.You can troll this blog, and I will just continue to delete you. Start your own blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bernie, what is with all the Clinton stuff? I like the question asked by 9:11. Does anyone know. I have a feeling there are more than a few of those Clinton haters that know the answer.
ReplyDeleteI will answer the question tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBernie, those people questioning the importance of the fundamental right of voting must be opposed to our republican form of government. Lol.
ReplyDelete