Guidance issued by the state this week says: “Slogans that can be associated with a political party, candidate or ballot question or issue, but do not display the name of the political party, candidate, or ballot question or issue are not prohibited.”
LaRose’s office says this guidance has been the same since LaRose took office, though some county elections officials have previously interpreted Ohio law to prohibit material that implies clear support for a candidate.
The most common example of this is the Make America Great Again, or MAGA, slogan used by supporters of former President Donald Trump and often emblazoned on bright red hats. Slogans used by the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris include “When we fight, we win” and “We’re Not Going Back.”
Tom Calarco, a pollworker in Warren County, said he’s concerned the guidance could lead to violence and endanger pollworkers.
“On the eve of this volatile election, when you’re hearing all the crazy stuff, they allow this,” he said. “They’re inviting conflict.”
The guidance from LaRose’s office affirmed that some attire and material is prohibited in polling locations if it displays the name of a political party, displays the name of a candidate, or demonstrates support or opposition to a ballot question or issue.
“If the person displaying the attire or paraphernalia is someone who entered the polling place to vote and the person refuses to remove or cover the item or article of clothing while in the polling place, the person must still be permitted to vote if the person is otherwise eligible to cast a ballot at the polling place,” according to a release from the secretary of state’s office.
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