Leave the campaign buttons at home on Election Day

If you show up at the polls on Nov. 4 sporting a T-shirt, hat or button supporting your favorite candidate, you will be asked to remove or cover up the item, says the man in charge of conducting elections in Montgomery County.

"It's pretty clear, under the state Election Code, that no electioneering is permitted in the polling place," Montgomery County Voter Services Director Joseph R. Passarella told The Mercury, explaining his department solicitor's take on the situation. "There really is no gray area here."

Passarella's comments were backed by the three elected county commissioners, who also serve on the county board of elections.

The county's position differs from a recent ruling by state officials, who issued a letter to all 67 Pennsylvania counties at the behest of the American Civil Liberties Union, the far left advocacy group.

Passarella emphasized the state department's opinion is advisory only. Under the law, counties are responsible for regulating their polling places, he said.

So leave the campaign buttons at home on Election Day.

If you don't comply with the rules, constables will be on hand to assist you in removing the campaign paraphernalia.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Mercury.