The last day of Early Voting (Friday) also happens to be Halloween. In case you’re thinking of casting your ballot on your way to Sixth Street (the county’s two mega sites will be open until 9pm), yes, you may wear your costume into the voting booth – provided it is not overtly political and/or could be construed as electioneering.
Sez Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir:
It’s perfectly fine for voters to wear costumes to the polls, as long as they do not depict a particular candidate or political party. Also, masks, weapons or simulated weapons are not permitted.
Standard prohibitions against electioneering apply to political buttons, t-shirts and caps. Voters who wear inappropriate items will be asked to remove or cover the items. Election judges are trained to work with voters to find a solution that avoids at all times turning voters
away from the polls.
I guess that means you’ll have to take off your Austin Chronicle McCain/Palin mask.
This article appears in October 24 • 2008.