Passive Electioneering Policies Still Differ

Some Pennsylvania voters who wear campaign t-shirts and buttons to the polls will be asked to remove them or cover them up. The Department of State calls the wearing of campaign attire "passive electioneering," and says it's allowed under Pennsylvania law. But a memo from the department also says it's up to each county to determine how to interpret Pennsylvania's ban on electioneering.

Washington County once barred voters from wearing campaign paraphernalia at the polls, but its Board of Elections decided to allow the practice after the Department of State issued its memo. Other counties like Butler that have long banned passive electioneering say they will continue to enforce their policies. Some elections judges bring jackets that voters can wear over their campaign attire. Other counties, like Allegheny, have long allowed voters to wear whatever campaign paraphernalia they want.

Other people inside polling places, including election workers and watchers, are not allowed to wear campaign paraphernalia.

Western Pennsylvania counties that allow "passive electioneering":
Allegheny
Armstrong
Beaver
Cambria
Clearfield
Greene
Indiana
Jefferson
Somerset
Washington
Westmoreland

Western Pennsylvania counties that bar "passive electioneering":
Blair
Butler
Elk
Fayette
Lawrence
Mercer
Venango