WRIC Richmond News and Weather - Groups drop lawsuit against elections board
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Associated Press - June 6, 2009 2:35 PM ET
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Three free-speech groups have dropped a lawsuit against the state Board of Elections after the General Assembly passed legislation that allows people to wear political clothing to the polls.
The ACLU of Virginia, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and The Rutherford Institute sued the State Board of Elections arguing that its ban on clothing, hats, buttons or other paraphernalia that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a candidate or issue inside polling places violates free speech rights.
The state board voted 2-1 last fall to ban the items, interpreting a state law that forbids electioneering within 40 feet of the polls.
The General Assembly later passed legislation allowing it.
Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com
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