I used to be a poll worker in Rhode Island… thank you for this!

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ayo what you mean pill?

As a former poll worker, thank you! I worked every election in Warwick from 04-16. I won't say what city or town I'm in now, but unfortunately I had to educate a candidate that they could not wear campaign stickers inside a polling place. The law is still no political anything within 50ft of a polling place, correct? The person took the sticker off but was incredulous that there could be such a rule.

Thanks! I totally missed that.

Poll worker here! I appreciate your message. 😄

No, that's a law for any non voters including poll workers. So if the candidate was in the act of voting it would be fine for him to be wearing his own button, but not if he for instance was just coming in to check on his election watchers, and of course if he was trying to talk to other voters. Basically no politicking within 50ft but the voter can bring in any handouts and read it in line and wear whatever they want as long as they are there to vote.

Edit: thinking about it more I think you are right the candidate could be considered different in this case and should not be wearing their own button. Although they themselves are recognisable as the candidate with or without the button.

Just have to correct that the actual poll workers are not volunteers they are paid. Not a lot, which is why I don't do it any more since it's such a long day, wish they let people do shifts. Any volunteers at polling places usually are there for individual campaigns and are not poll workers, they are there for get out the vote push, they check off who votes, that's why the poll workers call out your name and address, so they can see who they have to call or go door to door to get them to vote before the end of the day.

First, thank you! Second, a question: is that 50' from the entrance or the property?

There’s an election going on? Since when

I went to vote today in Cranston and people are standing right outside the polling place with their signs, I mentioned it when I went inside and they basically laughed at me.

To clear up any possible confusion - By poll workers, I mean the lovely folks inside the buildings doing the ID checks and handing out the polls and overseeing the voting machines. Not the guys outside holding the signs lol. They're fine I guess, but the guys inside are the important ones here.

Thank you for your time!

Thank you for all the time you put into volunteering! It's greatly appreciated :) And as far as I know that rule still exists. I haven't seen anyone violate it in my experience, though I'm sure it does happen it's first thing in the mornings and is corrected early before I show up. Either way, the guys that hold the signs have only ever been cordial and easy going which I'm also grateful for!

today is midterms, go out and vote if you are registered!

It’s 50’ from the exterior door.

Always do. My wife also made up several fruit/snack baskets for poll workers in Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton.

Seriously. The guy behind me today was screaming at the workers demanding to vote right now. I guess the system said he had voted already. The workers handled the situation very calmy and professionally. And that was just in the 5 minutes I saw of the 13 hours they're open today. It's a thankless job and they deserve some recognition!

I was thinking of making a batch of cookies! Was afraid they'd have to turn it down for some convoluted bribery rule that affects goods and services like that lol. It's actually really good to know small gestures like that are acceptable!

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Working a Poll right now. It's been a great day and glad I signed up to do it.

Tbh, if I’m working as a poll worker Im not going to eat anything given to me by a random person. But it’s a nice gesture.

Yeah, that's also totally fair lol.

Thanks for the thank you. Been here since 6am. Smooth operation, everyone incredibly respectful. Only 5 hours to go

Turned out that poll worker was my own mother. I purposely didn’t ask anything to keep things formal, and when I walked in there she was. (I did thank everyone there, and wished them luck)

And thank goodness we don't live in Florida I or Arizona where poll workers worry about their safety.

I mean I’m grateful to not be living in Florida every day and for a myriad of reasons but yes, the thread of political violence is certainly up there

Yes! Thank you Poll Workers!!!

My wife is actually a House rep (she won reelection — yay!) and all the poll workers know her. She asked the Board of Elections beforehand if it was OK and they said it’s fine as long as you don’t linger to canvass.

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