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Right to Life aims to be seen at polls
Anti-abortion group asks people to wear shirts bearing group's name while working Election Day venues.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
DAYTON — Dayton Right to Life is recruiting people to work the polls on Election Day, telling them they'll be allowed to wear shirts bearing the anti-abortion group's name and asking them to donate the $95 the county pays them to the organization, according to Christi Dodson, executive director.
The plan has voter rights advocates outraged and the Montgomery County Board of Elections planning to reconsider allowing any logos on clothing worn by the people who work at the polls.
Extras
"You don't want people with a political ax to grind wearing their politics on their shirt in the polling place," said Ellis Jacobs, senior attorney for Dayton-based Advocates for Basic Legal Equality. "I think the secretary of state is going to need to weigh in because this undermines the neutrality of election workers."
Betty Smith, deputy director of the board, said she told Dodson the organization's logo would be permitted. The board allows companies, unions and other groups to put their names on poll workers' shirts as part of the fledgling Day of Democracy effort to replenish the dwindling ranks of poll workers. The idea is that if companies and organizations can get a little free advertising they might be more inclined to give people the day off to help with elections.
"This was strictly a marketing tool," said Smith, a Republican. "It was not put together to have any political agenda."
Board of Elections Director Steve Harsman, a Democrat, said the workers are free to do what they want with the money they earn for the work so the fundraising part of Dayton Right to Life's plan is perfectly legal. But, he said, the board did not anticipate potential problems with clothing logos that might be considered politically loaded.
"It definitely opens a can of worms," Harsman said. "Ultimately our goal is to make sure our voters are comfortable at the polling place."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7455 or
lhulsey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Joy
July 25, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
So, union T-shirts are NOT politcal? The duplicity never ends…
By tlc
July 21, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
The polls should be a place of neutrality. No organization buttons, T Shirts with logos or any other affiliation other than poll worker, Judge, etc. should be permitted. If the workers want to change clothes on their way out-after passing the 100 foot mark - they are welcome to do so. Just as poll workers are vested with a responsibility they are cloaked with an obligation to enforce the strict no-campaigning rule at the polls. Our democracy demands no less.
By Mary
July 21, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this
I am Pro-Life, and agree with LW. Let’s wear our Pro-Life t-shirts to the polls when we vote. Wearing them while working the polls would only contribute animosity towards the Pro-Life movement.
By jmark
July 21, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
In response to the “Right to Liar” comment about the Right to Life only being interested in children before their born. I want to challenge Judy to actually visit the local Right to Life and see for her own eyes what they do for children and their mothers AFTER they’re born. I am pretty sure Christi Dodson would be happy to give a tour to you.
By LW
July 21, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this
Mr. Lieberman is quoted in this article as stating. “Not in this lifetime on this board.” It’s interesting that the term “lifetime” is used in reference to the issue of the lifetime of the unborn child stopped prematurely by abortion.
By LW
July 21, 2007 6:20 PM | Link to this
Interesting the first newsworthy discussion of this topic is in response to what seems to be a conservative, republican oriented organiztion. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I hope the BOE bans poll workers from wearing T-shirts that display any political or organizational message. Solution: Pro-Lifers exercise our right to free speech & expression by wearing OUR Right to Life t-shirt to the polls. Thousands of voters standing in line supporting Pro-Life t-shirts speaks volumes.
By LW
July 21, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this
Interesting the first newsworthy discussion of this topic is in response to what seems to be a conservative, republican oriented organiztion. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I hope the BOE bans poll workers from wearing T-shirts that display any political or organizational message. Solution: Pro-Lifers exercise our right to free speech & expression by wearing OUR Right to Life t-shirt to the polls. Thousands of voters standing in line supporting Pro-Life t-shirts speaks volumes.
By Judy
July 21, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
Right to Liar is comprised of a bunch of hypocrites who only care about the kids before they’re born.
By jmark
July 21, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
THE COMMENT ABOUT BEING NON-PARTISAN: That statement is WAY UNTRUE! After working as a trouble shooter at the polls this past May election. I can tell you the polls are made up of 2 republicans and 2 democrats. The 5th person is of the party who is most represented in that precinct. The organizations are placed where they affiliate themselves and where poll workers are needed.
By jmark
July 21, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
Also, MS HULSEY: Maybe you should be reporting on why the Board of Elections has to reach out to groups like Planned Parenthood and the Dayton Right to Life to be poll workers instead of slamming these groups. They are just taking the opportunity to raise money for their organizations. The retired folk who are die-hard poll workers are dying so the BofE has to recruit from these organizations. Please do the public a favor and tell the whole story for once.
By jmark
July 21, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
MS. HULSEY: I do recall that the Board of Elections had as well asked Planned Parenthood to as well serve as poll workers. They would also be allowed to wear shirts with their logos on them as well. Why was this not included into this story? This is a “hit piece” on a local organization that you may disagree with but you should still adhere to ethical journalism and tell the whole story, not just what’s on your agenda! I am appalled by your ethics.
By Robert Lowry
July 21, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
No political or moral points of view should be allowed in any way shape or form.
By Robert Lowry
July 21, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
No political points of view should be premitted in any way shape or form!
By Robert Lowry
July 21, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
No political points of view should be premitted in any way shape or form!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By jay
July 21, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
I’m baffled by the comments above saying that Right to Life is lying when they say they have no political agenda. When did RTL say they have no political agenda? It is the Board of Elections who was quoted saying they had no political agenda in allowing poll-workers to wear shirts identifying their organization. As they are saying that ANY group providing poll workers would be allowed to identify themselves, it is not clear how they are showing any bias.
By Cena Buchannon
July 21, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
I don’t know who Christi Dodson thinks she’s kidding. Her organization never does anything that isn’t calculated to draw attention and convert people to their viewpoint. I’m a pollworker and pro-choice. If Dayton Right to Life T-shirts are okay, then my ProChoice Ohio T-shirt should be okay, too. If it’s not, they’ll have to find another worker.
By Mike
July 21, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
Seems like a no brainer. It the board of elcetions screws this one up, we’ll know they’re not nonpartisian.
By Dorothy Mandell
July 21, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
I agree with the reader who wrote there should be no campaigning inside the polls, no matter who you are. If you have a point of view, pro choice or anti, you are free to express that point of view, BUT NOT in a polling place on a T-shirt. Common sense should prevail here!
By Rita Heider
July 21, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
I am prolife to the enth degree but in my opinion I believe these t-shirts would cause more controversy than good. Let’s accomplish our goals in a civil manner.
By Dave
July 21, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
Sure, just as long as I can wear my MFSO shirt saying “Bring the Troops Home, Now!”. Actually, it’s hard enough to sit with 2 morons…er, republicans as it is. I’m sure there would be fireworks between the anti-abortion and anti-war folks.
By Helen E. Davis
July 21, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
The only t-shirt Logo allowed at the Polls should be one saying “State Board of Elections” or “* County Board of Elections.” As a Presiding Judge of several years, I think such a uniform T-shirt would help to identify us to the voters. Any other Logo runs the risk of raising the ire of somebody — and the last thing we need while trying to do our job is have somebody yell at us because they don’t agree with our t-shirt!
By Joy Schwab
July 21, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
No. Right to Life obviously has a politcal agenda. It’s a ridiculous lie for them or for Betty Smith at the Board of Elections to claim otherwise. The law prohibiting political signs, literature and language within 100 feet of the polls is to protectr the voters right to cast their vote without harassment. Now they want to impose their views on voters within the polling place, just like they impose their views on women entering clinics. Maybe I should wear my Prochoice Ohio shirt.
By Joy Schwab
July 21, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
No. Right to Life obviously has a politcal agenda. It’s a ridiculous lie for them or for Betty Smith at the Board of Elections to claim otherwise. The law prohibiting political signs, literature and language within 100 feet of the polls is to protectr the voters right to cast their vote without harassment. Now they want to impose their views on voters within the polling place, just like they impose their views on women entering clinics. Maybe I should wear my Prochoice Ohio shirt.
By Robert
July 21, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
There is a huge difference between a political sign on a public street and the person handing you your ballot wearing a shirt telling you who to vote for. Campaign literature is already banned from inside polling places. Why should there be an exception for clothing? There should be no campaigning inside the polls, no matter who you are.
By Frank
July 21, 2007 5:50 AM | Link to this
What is happening to our FREEDOM; Nect thing they will try and tell us when we can go to the bathroom; I believe that if they ban the T-Shirts; they should BAN all political signs that clutter up the highways during the elections. To me this is littering; They should all be fined for littering up the highways with all their crappy signs. They should just allow the signs at the polling places,
By Tim in Stuttgart
July 21, 2007 5:23 AM | Link to this
Yes. The name should be ___County Board of Elections. Anything else flies in the face of “non-partisan” elections workers. Any company could have an interest in an issue on the ballot. Many seemingly non-partisan companies back candidates and parties, and you can be sure that someone will discover and exploit that fact.