It’s ILLEGAL To Wear THIS While Voting In 21 States! Utah, California or Nevada At Risk?

DON'T dress to impress... your candidate! Yes, you read that right. If you’re headed to a polling place in any of 21 states, your attire might actually prevent you from casting your ballot. Nearly half the country has rules about “campaign apparel” at voting locations—so leave that “Make America Great Again” hat or “I’m with Harris” tee at home. Here’s how it works:

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What’s Off Limits?

Campaign Gear: In certain states (states listed below), any apparel that promotes a political party, candidate, or ballot issue is banned near polling stations.
Examples: This includes shirts, hats, buttons, and even small pins—basically, if it shows support for a candidate or cause, it’s not welcome.
Distance Rules: In most states, this rule applies within a certain range, often 50–100 feet from the entrance. But some states, like Kansas and Maine, go all out, expanding this “no-campaign zone” to 250 feet.

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The “Banned States” List

If you’re in one of these 21 states, be careful with your wardrobe choices:

States with Restrictions:

Arkansas
California
Delaware
Indiana
Kansas
Maine
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New York
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont

What to Avoid: Anything that screams “Vote for [insert name]!” or “Yes on [insert proposition]!” will likely get you turned away.

Why the Dress Code?

These rules are all about electioneering—the laws aim to prevent people from influencing voters with slogans or campaign materials. This way, polling places stay neutral, avoiding any pressure tactics (even unintentional ones).

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Bottom Line

If you want your vote to count, play it safe. Skip the campaign swag, or you might find yourself back in the parking lot instead of at the voting booth. And remember, the whole point is to vote, so don’t let your wardrobe make that decision for you!