It's okay to wear candidate apparel to the polls!
Contrary to popular rumor: a voter who is wearing a political cap, T-shirt, or button and does not electioneer within the polling place will be allowed to vote in a normal matter.
People can wear buttons, T-shirts, hats, whatever, with the name or picture of a candidate but they can NOT engage in electioneering inside the polling place (or outside, within 50 feet of it). They need to proceed in an orderly manner to vote and leave without making any effort to bring attention to their campaign handout, clothes, etc. If they point to their shirt or tell others, "Hey, vote for [name on hat]," then they are electioneering and they will be asked to stop immediately, and if they persist, they will be asked to leave.
From the Don Wright, North Carolina State Board of Elections:
"This is a false rumor that is growing like wildfire. Of course it is false.
"The rumor started from statements made on the Steve Harvey Radio Show. I visited their website and looked at the e-mails and this rumor was there.
"Our position is and always has been......
"A voter may enter a voting place to vote wearing political items as long as they proceed to vote in an orderly and timely manner, and do not attempt to electioneer within the voting place. A voter wearing a T-shirt saying "Vote for X" who shouts "vote for X" or places his T-shirt in the sightline of voters asking support for "X" is obviously electioneering and will be asked to refrain from the conduct at once, and if they continue will be removed.
"A voter who is wearing a political cap, T-shirt, or button and does not electioneer within the polling place will be allowed to vote in a normal matter."
Please spread the word about this false rumor
If you feel like you are mistreated when you vote because of what you are wearing, or for some other reason, you can contact the national Election Protection hotline (1-866-OUR-VOTE), Democracy North Carolina at 1-888-OUR-VOTE or call the State Board of Elections (1-866-522-4723).