In Pennsylvania you may not hand out political material within ten feet of a polling place. This is barely enforced; I’ve seen polling places where voters must run a gauntlet of partisan activists, sometimes loud and rude, accosting voters. In Palmerton one of the polling places featured a man yelling at voters while holding the leash of a large and fierce-looking dog. At the East Penn polling location a crowd of activists was almost blocking the door. I think one of the reasons more Democrats are voting by mail is that they just don’t want to deal with obnoxious MAGA types acting like bullies.
The latest meeting of the Carbon County Democratic Executive Board passed a resolution asking our state representatives to introduce legislation extending the no solicitation zone to 50 feet. People can still hold up signs and pass out literature, but they must be at least 50 feet from the front door. Since some states have a 100 foot zone, 50 feet seems reasonable.
If the legislature won’t extend the zone by November and you are accosted, remember you can use your outside voice. And call the cops. And register a complaint with election authorities. It is illegal to interfere with voters.
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