2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumNYT says campaign report indicates Bill Clinton went inside the polling place with mayor.
Bill Clinton Gets a Little Too Close to Voters in BostonSome poll workers in Boston did a double-take on Tuesday at the unusual sight of a former president of the United States campaigning inside polling places.
Bill Clinton, an inveterate campaigner who has always loved Election Day, was ranging over the state trying to pump up voters to cast their ballots for his wife, Hillary Clinton.
We had to remind some of our poll workers that even a president cant go inside and work a polling place, William F. Galvin, the Massachusetts secretary of state, said in an interview.
A pool report from Mr. Clintons visit to Bostons West Roxbury neighborhood on Tuesday morning said that he went inside the polling place with the citys mayor, Martin J. Walsh. Mr. Clinton stopped at a bake sale at the entrance and then shook hands with poll workers.
When one woman asked for a photo, Mr. Clinton said, As long as were not violating any election laws, the pool report said.
NWCorona
(8,541 posts)I posted something similar a bit ago. I'm glad to see this news spreading.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Why even bother, if victory is so guaranteed?
truebrit71
(20,805 posts).... don't go awry...
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)madfloridian
(88,117 posts)The well known spouse of a candidate cannot just stroll into a polling place to start glad handing the damn voters. The MA Secretary of State's office had to send the Clinton campaign a "reminder" about the election laws after this.
I'm sure their wrists are throbbing from that stinging slap.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)gcomeau
(5,764 posts)...she strolled into some polling place she had no voting business in and wandered around for 30 or 40 minutes chatting it up with every voter in the place... in a state where doing that at a polling place is illegal... yup.
So when and where did this happen?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Blue State Bandit
(2,122 posts)They shut down voting for 2 hours.There is video of the lines that formed. This is a breach of 950 C.M.R. § 54.04(22)(a). "Observers are allowed inside the polling place, outside the guardrail, unless they are disorderly or obstruct the access of voters."
WORD DOC MASS ELECTION LAW ---> https://t.co/duNiALwVQY
VIDEO FROM BEDFORD --->
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Don't stretch this one, as this post indicated observers are allowed in the voting place, was he disorderly, no, no video to prove he was, no video to prove he was obstructing access of any voters. There is not any violation.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)and vote afterward. As is their right.
Blue State Bandit
(2,122 posts)FFS!
gcomeau
(5,764 posts)Ma Secretary of State's office said it broke the law. What more do you freaking want?
You. Can't. Campaign. In. Polling. Places. And strolling into a polling place you are not voting in and then hanging out chatting up the voters when you are the incredibly well known spouse of one of the candidates IS CAMPAIGNING.
Land Shark
(6,346 posts)Here is a video showing BI'll Clinton inside the polling place shaking hands.http://m.kiss108.com/articles/trending-on-kiss-108-469049/did-bill-clinton-violate-election-rules-14438573/?cmp=syn
emulatorloo
(44,124 posts)So not sure those rules apply.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)In Allegheny County, the county pays for the machines, the training, and all the salaries for poll workers.
You are confusing primary campaigns with the actual primary elections.
emulatorloo
(44,124 posts)passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)vdogg
(1,384 posts)Damn them to hell.
gcomeau
(5,764 posts)redwitch
(14,944 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)redwitch
(14,944 posts)Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Yes I know it was her. She said she was looking for the Colonel Sanders, but I knew it was her. She can't hide from me. I told her yes, I am voting for Bernie too, but in June. She's early.
Rules and laws do NOT apply to the Clinton's. Even her supporters will look for excuses they never thought they would have to. I would be embarrassed, but that's me.
redwitch
(14,944 posts)Electioneering is voter fraud. It is unAmerican and it pisses me off.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)Not shaking the hands of the voters. But we may just have to wait to see how this one "shakes" out...pun intended.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)And if he didn't talk to voters, then why go in?
arcane1
(38,613 posts)As a former president whose wife is a candidate, his mere appearance is going to be interpreted as "otherwise promoting". There is literally no other reason for him to be there, inside the actual polling place.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)He doesn't have to do that.
It's impossible to separate him from the candidate.
It's the same as if someone walked in with big sign that said: "VOTE FOR HILLARY".
I'm not naive enough to think the Clintons are not aware of the conflict of interest.
Unbelievable..... and low down dirty. MY cat is less of an opportunist.
gcomeau
(5,764 posts)He's a former president. EVERYONE knows who he is and who his wife is.
Just being there chatting it up with voters as they are voting is campaigning. As the MA secretary of state's office had to "remind" the Clinton campaign after this happened.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Say anything about not allowing him into the polls, the law does not allow soliciting, do you know if he solicited?
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)That's the Massachusetts Poll Watcher Rule. Care to comment?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)I guess that's lost on you.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)And it's not helping your cause any.
gcomeau
(5,764 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)I don't know Mass. law, but if true, Clinton should have known better.
If people didn't know who he was and he avoided drawing any attention to himself, he might get by with it.
But his very person is a campaign sign.
w4rma
(31,700 posts)According to the Clinton campaigns pool report, Bill took at least one photo with a voter outside Holy Name, kissed an elderly woman on her head, and signed another voters Hillary sign. The Globe also reports Clinton told one voter, Pull the lever for Hillary.
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2016/03/01/bill-clinton-massachusetts-voting-laws/
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)One? That's what I find wildest about this whole thing.
I was the Lead Poll Worker Trainer for Orange County, CA. I wrote the book that was used for four years as far as Poll Worker training and polling place practices goes. I know what's allowed and what isn't in a polling place. Hell a PICTURE of Bill Clinton wouldn't be allowed on a T-shirt in a polling place during California's upcoming primary.
Change it and come back, put a jacket over it, turn it inside out, or leave and if you refuse to do one of those things I'm calling the Sheriff. One thing I can promise you though is that if one of my Poll Workers allowed that person to vote they'd be permanently barred from working the polls ever again.
w4rma
(31,700 posts)Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)Activities at Polling Place. Within 150 feet of a polling place as defined in 950 CMR 53.03(18)(c), no person shall solicit votes for or against, or otherwise promote or oppose, any person or political party or position on a ballot question, to be voted on at the current election.
http://www.mass.gov/courts/docs/lawlib/900-999cmr/950cmr53.pdf
Cut and dried.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)redwitch
(14,944 posts)And you're ok with it?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)has to be broken, I could go into a precinct and observe, ergo, "poll watchers", it is not against the voting laws.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)How many people really know what Jane Sanders looks like. Bill Clinton is a billboard for Hillary, and he wasn't even voting in Ma. This is what we call CHEATING. But you continue to come up with excuses, you guys are going to need to get used to doing this.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Divernan
(15,480 posts)As you well know!
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)highprincipleswork
(3,111 posts)Election Laws? Not if we're breaking any, because I am completely unaware of the geographical distance that political parties have to keep from polling booths on election day.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Bill Clinton's very presence in a polling place is a campaign in and of itself.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)madfloridian
(88,117 posts)He can go in, but he cant approach voters, Mr. Galvin said. We just took the extra precaution of telling them because this is not a usual occurrence. You dont usually get a president doing this.
Good grief I hope this is not a usual occurrence. I did not think it was legal for him to be inside. Bill Clinton esp. since he is known by everyone.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)dragonfly301
(399 posts)do we really want 8 years of that? No.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)him could be consider a violation
Baitball Blogger
(46,714 posts)there.
INdemo
(6,994 posts)Within the restricted zone of a polling place
A voter in that precinct should file a complaint and it would stick because Bill Clinton violated the law.
riversedge
(70,223 posts)AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)...again....and again....and again...
UglyGreed
(7,661 posts)senz
(11,945 posts)passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)What does that say about your candidate? I hope nothing, but considering it was her husband, it might say a lot.
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)you would be having an aneurysm.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)about politics, weather is fine though. Identifying yourself or your spouse or parent as a candidate, not good, but shaking hands if you don't have a cold is ok as long as you keep your mouth shut. Ditto for the mayor.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Bubzer
(4,211 posts)hollysmom
(5,946 posts)I was just addressing if it is legal.
INdemo
(6,994 posts)Dick Cheney of Hillary's campaign
Hell they already have Karl Rove (David Brock)
arcane1
(38,613 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)"wrong" candidate.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)if not to act as a campaign surrogate, why he was in the polling place
in your own words.
Don't play the victim card here. "Wrong" candidate? A rule was broken. During one of our most important privileges as citizens. That's a big deal.
You and your crowd can pretend it's not all you want. Win dirty, win at all costs? See what happens when you need us in November
MADem
(135,425 posts)he wanted to. He could have sent his wife. His friends. Maybe he did, for all you know.
It's stupid to whine and cry about something that the other side COULD HAVE DONE AS WELL.
If Sanders did not do this (and we really don't know if he did or didn't) that's because he didn't feel like doing it, not that he "couldn't" have done it. He could have had Belafonte, West, and all of his other surrogates out there as well. He could have sent his wife out to thank poll workers and buy bake sale goods all the live-long day.
The one playing the "victim" card isn't me, here. Your post deserves to be memorialized, so "me and my crowd" will have a record of it down the years:
SheenaR
57. Please tell me then
View profile
if not to act as a campaign surrogate, why he was in the polling place
in your own words.
Don't play the victim card here. "Wrong" candidate? A rule was broken. During one of our most important privileges as citizens. That's a big deal.
You and your crowd can pretend it's not all you want. Win dirty, win at all costs? See what happens when you need us in November
The threat at the end was especially worthy of note.
Lazy Daisy
(928 posts)When Trump uses this same tactic in the GE. Seeing as he's backed by all kinds of really ugly people, if they show up to just give coffee and donuts to the poll workers and not say anything to the voters?
But I'm sure you will argue the KKK has every right to do so correct?
MADem
(135,425 posts)They CAN say things to the voters--they can say "Nice day" and "How do you do?" and "How about those Knicks" but they can't say "Vote for me" or repeat campaign slogans, or hand out buttons, stickers, etc.
In tight races you see this often. It is what it is--you just have to make sure you don't step over the line. Trump free-associates, he might have a hard time reining in his mouth--but if he could control himself, he could get away with it, too.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)Not inside the facility. Not within 150 feet.
MADem
(135,425 posts)They can go in the facility, they can walk around, they can talk to people so long as they don't talk politics or electioneer, and they can pose for selfies.
They can also buy baked goods at the bake sales at those places, and talk about how tasty the cookies are.
You're just wrong in your understanding of the law here.
And there's no reason that Bernie, or his wife, or his surrogates, are prevented from doing the same.
They can't hand out buttons or bumper stickers, or wear tee shirts, or say "Vote for ____" but they can chat about non-election stuff and smile and wave and take snapshots.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)President Clinton is not a registered voter. He is a surrogate and advocate of the campaign. Unless the law posted on here multiple times was incorrect, it says they are not allowed to loiter in there at all.
I'll delete all posts to the contrary if you find me the law saying otherwise. I will also delete my post calling you ignorant because it wasn't very nice
MADem
(135,425 posts)He and Marty were walking up to but not over the line. You do not HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED VOTER to enter a public building. Sorry if you don't like that.
Sanders and his surrogates are free to do the same--for all we know, they've been doing just that.
The day you can successfully accuse someone who is the guest of a city's mayor of being a "loiterer" is the day you hit ten lotteries at once. You can't make up laws just because you don't like someone. They had business in that polling place--they were there to "thank poll workers."
Again--the Sanders team CAN do this, TOO--no one is stopping them -- and for all you know, maybe they are doing this--it's not that long a drive from Burlington to western MA, for example.
Response to MADem (Reply #74)
SheenaR This message was self-deleted by its author.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)not to be "recognized" as part of Hillary's campaign.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)If you ever bothered to sign up to be a poll worker, you'd have received training and know that.
You should do that.
Baitball Blogger
(46,714 posts)No photographs allowed inside the building, and no campaigning within 50 feet. The Clintons don't believe in following the law. Never have, judging by the number of times they have found their way around the rules.
MADem
(135,425 posts)TBF
(32,062 posts)Unbelievable.
MADem
(135,425 posts)http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2016/03/01/bill-clinton-massachusetts-voting-laws/
There's no residency requirement to enter a public building. He was accompanied by the Mayor of Boston. You might not like it, but he was coloring within the lines.
Sanders could have gotten off his best intentions and jetted off to do the same, and deployed HIS surrogates to do the very thing as well. For all we know he might have done just that and we haven't seen the news reports yet.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)It's fine. All the ugly words toward us who supported Bernie...and as the DNC chair said in her own words...we are not Democrats if we support Bernie who she says is not a Democrat.
They played the racism game with Bernie's good name. That is not okay.
I have always voted Democratically, but now I am not one.
Go figure.
MADem
(135,425 posts)What Bill Clinton was doing at the polls, Jane Sanders, Bernie Sanders, all of Bernie''s surrogate celebrity supporters, they could have done (and who knows--maybe they did?) too.
There are things you cannot say- Like "Vote For Bernie!" or "Feel the Bern" - but you can shake hands with people who approach you, you can thank poll workers, you can buy bake sale goods, you can talk about football, or what a nice day it is today, so long as you don't hand out bumper stickers or buttons and "exhort."
It's illogical to get mad at people for maximizing their advantage, especially when the other team could have--and for all you know, maybe did--the very same thing.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)And while he may have been coloring within the lines, his marker pen was bleeding out beyond the lines.
Like I said in another post, he'd have to put a bag over his head not to be recognized (in other words campaigning for) as Hillary's husband and in favor of her winning.
MADem
(135,425 posts)write. You keep creating scenarios not in evidence. If he wanted to get off his duff and do it, he could have. NO ONE is stopping him. If he doesn't want to get up and go do it, it's on HIM.
But don't play the "Oh he's bad for doing that" card when it's unusual for politicians to NOT do this. They stretch it to the max and they know where the line is.
Of course he wants to be recognized--if Cornel West shook hands of people who came up to him in front of a polling place, or Harry Belafonte, or Jane Sanders, or anyone associated w/the Sanders campaign, the idea would be TO BE recognized.
The idea of electioneering near polling place laws is to limit the influence--not to eliminate it totally. That would be impossible to do, anyway.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)give me a break.
OK I will cede you with one victory here. You were trying to call a poster on his incorrect statement that campaigning is not allowed within 50 feet of a polling place (it's 150 feet), and/or the legality of taking a photograph inside a polling place. I don't know if he meant a campaign photo op or just any photo, but you are correct...I see no laws prohibiting photos in a polling place. I will say that a picture of Bernie voting is not a "campaign photo op".
I will admit I overreacted to your response because I did not read the post you were responding to.
You still implied Bernie "might" do the same thing Bill just did, when I think we all know, even you, that he would never go there. Bill joked about crossing the line. He knew exactly what he was doing and how far he could go.
RiverNoord
(1,150 posts)That's even worse. I mean, a former President of the United States and spouse of a current candidate for the same office 'thanking poll workers' in the midst of an active party primary at which his spouse's candidacy is being voted on?
That's absolutely not OK. I am not a 'picker and chooser' of 'wrongs' committed by one candidate's camp vs. another. Lots of questionable things can happen during elections, and supporters of even the squeakiest-clean candidates are often right there in the thick of it.
But... this conduct is really... wow - really, really wrong. I'd like to know if President Clinton has thanked poll workers at many Democratic primaries in the past, where his wife's candidacy or any other issue he has personally supported has not been involved. But - even then, it's just fundamentally wrong for a former United States President to publicly enter polling places during any active election and speak with, well, anybody.
TBF
(32,062 posts)Good luck.
MADem
(135,425 posts)maybe they ARE doing the same thing.
Not sure why you are getting so angry because he's maximizing his team's advantage. For all you know, Sanders' celebrity backers are doing the very same thing. If I learned Susan Sarandon was out there shaking hands with people or buying baked goods at polling place bake sales, I'd think "He's working his ground game" not "Waah, bad, good luck."
Politicians have ALWAYS done this kind of thing.
They know where the line is. They'll go right up to it, because the stakes are high, obviously.
And if Bill Clinton getting up off his duff and playing that card with the Mayor is a deal-breaker, well, I don't know what to tell you. I won't be annoyed if I find out Sanders was working the field south of the VT border. He would have been smart to do just that.
I think if people keep working hard for HRC, she won't need a lot of luck.
Baitball Blogger
(46,714 posts)He should have no access inside a polling area unless he has been pre-approved as a poll worker, a poll witness or a voter.
TBF
(32,062 posts)who is married to one of the current candidates. Not even close.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)Seriously? You said/implied a lot of sketchy things here lately, but this one takes the cake.
MADem
(135,425 posts)place (pull the string, read the whole conversation before you start flinging crap at people, please).
Here's another photo taken in a polling place:
And speaking of "sketchy" things to say--this is the rudest comment on this thread--pat yourself on the back:
passiveporcupine
35. Arel you implying that Bernie does not have the right to vote?
View profile
Seriously? You said/implied a lot of sketchy things here lately, but this one takes the cake.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)YOu are one of the most regular snide and sarcastic posters here. At least from my observation and I tend to be snide and sarcastic, so I recognize it. And this post, trying to imply that being in a voting place while voting is even comparable to being in a polling place when you are not voting, or even legal to vote there, is one and the same thing?
This is exactly what I refer to when I say sketchy.
And I never knew sketchy was a bad word.
Sketchy...not thorough or detailed. Like this photo op.
Purrfessor
(1,188 posts)that Bill Clinton is within his rights to enter a voting precinct as long as he refrains from campaigning. Their hatred for anything Clinton is as deep or deeper than the Republicans hatred of Obama. I've never seen anything like it.
Freaked Out
(74 posts)Bernie's casting his own vote. All perfectly legal and I'm sure he doesn't stick around and say "VOTE FOR ME!" He's already proven his case, and he will win Vermont with ease. MA will go to Bernie, because (CENSORED).
Clinton has zero reason to be in MA polls.
JimDandy
(7,318 posts)In every jurisdiction I've lived in, it has been at least 100ft from the entrance to the polling location. I've been living in a mail-in ballot state for approx. the last decade, though, so maybe election laws have changed in the meantime.
INdemo
(6,994 posts)JimDandy
(7,318 posts)Pretty egregious what Clinton and that Mayor did.
Response to JimDandy (Reply #162)
INdemo This message was self-deleted by its author.
Punkingal
(9,522 posts)marions ghost
(19,841 posts)he's not making very good decisions.
Punkingal
(9,522 posts)TBF
(32,062 posts)Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)Get with the program!
kgnu_fan
(3,021 posts)scheming daemons
(25,487 posts)Primaries are events run by the individual parties, and election law doesn't apply.
Nice try, though.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Except there is such a bitterness now after all the lies and innuendo about Bernie and his supporters.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Thanks in advance.
retrowire
(10,345 posts):|
scscholar
(2,902 posts)so what's the big deal? How is it fine when they do it, but not when we do it?
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)if the Clintons do it and if Nikki Haley does it...it's okay.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)jeff47
(26,549 posts)retrowire
(10,345 posts)Either way, it's bad.
per the quotes of Mass law that have been in and out of threads here.
Surrogate cannot be inside.
It's absolute bullshit
LuvLoogie
(7,003 posts)His Presence is like a weather system that makes you bundle up or put on your your baggy shorts and a Hawaiian Shirt. He's like knockout gas that keeps you from voting for Bernie.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Orsino
(37,428 posts)Vinca
(50,273 posts)Divernan
(15,480 posts)Only registered voters, appointed/elected poll workers and "observers" with court appointments are allowed inside the polling place. Candidates and anyone campaigning for a candidate cannot come or stand within 20 feet of the doors to a polling place.
Anyone with the least knowledge of campaigning knows of these restrictions and similar ones in other states. Is Bill slipping mentally?
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Which is, of course, complete bullshit.
dchill
(38,497 posts)arcane1
(38,613 posts)Divernan
(15,480 posts)NOBODY is allowed within 20 feet of the doors to the polling place unless they are registered voters or are authorized by the courts or the local election board to be there. (And of course, it was never just Bill - there would have been his Secret Service contingent with him as well.)
Each of our polling places has a constable. If anyone doesn't leave when I (Judge of Elections) order them to, the Constable will escort them the hell out. Although I have never had to resort to that except for one asshole TeaParty member who came to vote and then refused to leave.
Good lord, with all the insanity of race hate and shootings going on in our country right now, I hope we don't have any shootings at the polling places.
Good old Bill - NOT leading by example, yet again!
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)Mufaddal
(1,021 posts)I mean, if he were someone with a history of improper behavior, then maybe I'd give it a second thought, you know? But luckily he's not.
stupidicus
(2,570 posts)senz
(11,945 posts)to whatever they want.
Freaked Out
(74 posts)The results from that location should be Bernie only, as Clinton is now invalid.
EmperorHasNoClothes
(4,797 posts)IOKIYAC = it's OK if you're a Clinton.
Although, IOKIYAR applies here too, come to think of it.
xloadiex
(628 posts)They need to be fined
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)There is video and stills of what he did.
If it were anyone else, they would have told to leave or the law would be called.
Laws are for us, not them.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)I'll be going to brush up training for poll workers in a few weeks, and will bring this up for discussion. If he gets by with this, the Clinton campaign will be trying it anywhere else they can get by with it.
Blue State Bandit
(2,122 posts)Mass Election code and video at link---> http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511384459#post66
He made those people stand in line so he could break the first law, campaigning within 150' of a precinct site, a trivial expansion of election law, but OK.The proble is they shut down a precinct in Bedford with hundres if not a thousand+ people waiting to vote.
This is straight from the West Wing. Posse Comitatus, and we all know where Sorkin got that idea.
SAM
There was an incumbent President, who was facing a primary challenge, and
on the day of the
primary, his staff sent his motorcade into a district that was heavily
favored by his
opponent in order to tie up traffic. Now I would like it plain that I would
never do anything
to temper an election, but...
---Toby pats Sam's cheek a few times and squishes his mouth.----
TOBY
I am so... proud of you.
The proble is, sending the motorcade wasn't a violation of election law.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)NO MORE CLINTONS!
Phlem
(6,323 posts)The slime just keeps oozing from Hillary.
FloriTexan
(838 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,292 posts)I understand the laws may be different in my state than in Mass. Here any registered voter has the right to stand and observe and examine lists of who has voted. Campaigning or interfering with poll workers or voters is not allowed. But basically the way the law is enforced is it becomes a violation when the offender refuses to leave when ordered to do so.
There can be cases where someone's mere presence can be construed as campaigning, but that is up to the person in charge of the polling place. For instance, if the person is wearing an article of clothing supporting a specific candidate that is campaigning.
One election we had a hotly contested and controversial Sheriff's race. The incumbent was widely supported by the rank and file Deputies. A meeting with the registrar and the two candidates set some ground rules. Certainly it was common for on-duty Deputies to stop and vote during their shift. The challenger was worried they would create a presence at polling places and intimidate the voters in favor of the incumbent. He wanted to prohibit Deputies from entering the polling place in uniform.
The Registrar's decision was that they would be allowed to appear and vote in uniform, but if they loitered after voting, it would be considered campaigning. All the precinct inspectors were informed of this ruling as well as the two candidates and there were no problems.
The challenger won, by the way.
Long story, I know, I just wanted to give an example of how these laws can be interpreted. In my opinion, as long as Bill Clinton did not remain after being asked to leave by someone in charge, and was not actively handing out literature or otherwise campaigning, no foul.
I would fully expect this issue will be discussed at the poll worker training session before the next election. Myself, as a precinct inspector, I would have asked Mr. Clinton to leave, but he would not be charged with violating the law if he left when asked. If anyone was at fault here, it was whoever was in charge of the polling place.
INdemo
(6,994 posts)Supporter then he/she allows it right?
Mr.Bill
(24,292 posts)is supposed to enforce the rules regardless of their political preference. I believe I could. I can't speak for others.
INdemo
(6,994 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,292 posts)Some experienced, some not. There is usually a training session, and as I mentioned in my other post, I'm sure this issue will be discussed there.
PoliticalMalcontent
(449 posts)Clinton apologists defending broken rules. Shocking! /s
I will never understand the thought process behind clinging to Clinton. She's a terrific politician, but that's about the best thing I can say about her.
Who can remember saying, 'I love this politician for their political acumen.'?
Wednesdays
(17,376 posts)If he was disenfranchising voters, there might be an issue here...but otherwise this is just petty.
redwitch
(14,944 posts)What kind of Democrat thinks that is just fine?
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)He can go in, he just can't approach voters. They approached HIM. He allowed a picture. He was not Campaigning.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)You need to look into the phrase "otherwise promoting".
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)Candidates themselves sometimes greet voters.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)I've had one jerk running for local office who came in to vote and then turned to the man behind him, waiting to sign the voter register, and asked him to vote for him.
Before I could even say a word, that other voter immediately chewed him out and told him he was not allowed to campaign within the voting place. The local candidate, being a supreme egomaniac, got a face like a storm cloud but shut the fuck up.
And the really insane thing about the incident? The local jerk was running unopposed!
ms liberty
(8,577 posts)And of course is being lauded by the Clinton supporters here, because anything to win.
slipslidingaway
(21,210 posts)that delayed people in voting is not the direction our country should be heading.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)slipslidingaway
(21,210 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)If the First Lady Senator Secretary Candidate can pull an upset in ol' Mass, it might not be oh-vah but The Shoveler's minions would come out.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)The entry door was just to his left. Read the comments after the video at You Tube.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)One implying that Bernie is racist. That's where you can fibd the outrage brigade. Only a few came here.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)People, though...
baran
(92 posts)Did Bill Clinton violate election rules in Mass.?
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/01/did-bill-clinton-violate-election-rules-mass/5octlX1d28GwmN3kitiECK/story.html