Supreme Court strikes down Minnesota law that banned political apparel at polling place

On Thursday, a law in the state of Minnesota was struck down by the Supreme Court. A vote, 7-2, was determined in dissolving a law which placed a ban on political apparel at a polling place, stating that it violated the Free Speech component of the First Amendment.

Other states have similar laws, and this ruling will most likely impact these likewise. However, Minnesota’s was the broadest law, impacting this state the most. The state banned ANY political badge, political button, or political insignia of any kind at polling places. The rejection of this law sends a message that states cannot inhibit free speech to an extent, at polling places at least.

The Supreme court still allowed for there to be prohibitions at polling places, but struck down the law because the broadness of it made it open to interpretation. The idea of no political apparel stems from preventing any conflict among opposing political views. It apparently “advanced the state’s interest in peace, order, and decorum.” But you are there to vote. Nonetheless, whether the law is fair or not, the overly general law is unconstitutional. No political apparel could mean someone could not wear apparel to support #BlackLivesMatter or #MeToo or #Feminism. That would be inhibiting Free Speech at its finest.

The case was brought to attention after an incident with Andrew Cliek, who went to vote at a polling place in Minnesota and was stopped while wearing a shirt with a Tea Party Logo “Don’t Tread on Me.”

He brought the suit to the Supreme court, succeeding in his claim that it was unconstitutional and too broad.