Confusion Over Election Rules In Mobile?

Alabama Mobile Legislator wants to make sure poll workers know the law.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Thu, October 30, 2008 - 8:04 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, October 30, 2008 - 8:26 pm CST

Can you wear T-shirts or buttons endorsing a candidate when you go to a polling place in Alabama?
A state representative from Mobile said he's concerned voters don't know the answers to questions like that.
And Representative Joseph Mitchell said he wants to make sure poll workers know the correct answers, too.
Mobile County Probate Court Judge Don Davis said he's expecting Tuesday's turnout to be the heaviest ever for an election.
However, Mitchell said he has some concerns about election laws being enforced consistently.
Mitchell said, "We saw the primary election, and then the primary runoffs. We saw some discord between what the law says and what the election officers were doing and not because they were intending to usurp or mess up the process. They were just doing what they've always done. But the laws have changed."
For instance, Mitchell said he'd like see lines clearly marked at each polling place designating those areas where electioneering, or campaigning, is prohibited.
Mitchell said, "When polling officials at the polls take it upon themselves not to be exact, then it creates a problem because some of us want to be exact. (If) you're going to fudge on that, what else are you fudging on?"
But Judge Davis said there have already been training classes for poll workers, and he's confident all of his workers will be on the same page Tuesday.
Davis said, "We will be meeting this Saturday throughout the day with our inspectors and chief clerks and that's part of our regular training program that we will remind them about on Saturday."
Also, Mitchell said voters may hear things that simply aren't true.
He cited one example.
Mitchell said, "People can wear campaign literature in to vote. They can wear T-shirts, hats and buttons. I heard on radio that they were saying 'No,' you can't wear it. Yes, you can in Alabama."
Judge Davis said that's true, but you can't loiter inside.
He said voters have go to inside, cast their ballots, and then leave.

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