Summary Electioneering Prohibitions Near Polling Places

Alabama

30 ft. of the door

No one other than electors, persons to assist them, the judge of probate, the sheriff or his deputies, precinct election officials, and watchers is permitted within the perimeter.

Ala. Code § 17-9-50

Alaska

200 ft. of entrance

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

AS § 15.15.170

Arizona

75 ft. of polling place or entrance to early voting location

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

voter intimidation/interfering with voter

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

A.R.S. § 16-1018

Arkansas

100 ft. of exterior entrance; includes people in line

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

A.C.A. § 7-1-103(8),

A.C.A.7-1-104

California

100 ft. of polling place, satellite location or election official's office

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

projecting sounds referring to candidates/issues

Loitering

Cal. Elec. Code § 319.5, 18370

Colorado

100 ft. of any building where a polling place is located

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

C.R.S. § 1-13-714

Connecticut

75 ft. of the outside entrance to a polling place, or in any corridor passageway or approach leading to a polling place

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Loitering

peddling/advertising

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-236

District of Columbia 

50 ft. from the entrance and exit of a polling place

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Canvass

Other: "Engage in any activity that interferes with the orderly conduct of the election."

D.C. Code § 1-1001.10 (b) (2)(A)

Delaware

50 ft. of entrance of building

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues

15 Del. C. § 4942

Florida

150 ft. of the entrance to a polling place, early voting site, or office of the supervisor

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

polls/exit polls – Note: there is an exception allowing exit polls

Fla. Stat. § 102.031

Georgia

150 ft. of the outer edge of the building where a polling place is established, or within 25 ft. of any voter standing in line

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Money or gifts, including food or drink

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

polls/exit polls – Note: exit polls and opinion polls are prohibited within 25 ft. of the exit

Ga. Code § 21-2-414

Guam 

100 ft. of the entrance or exit of any polling place. 

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion 

Guam Code Ann. tit. 3, § 9111, § 9112 

Hawaii

200 ft. from the perimeter of any voter service center or any place of deposit; includes the building, its parking lot, and routes of access between them

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

polls/exit polls

H.R.S. § 11-132

Idaho

250  ft. of a building where an election is being held

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion 

Other: "Engage in any practice which interferes with the freedom of voters to exercise their franchise or disrupts the administration of the polling place."

I.C. § 18-2318

Illinois

100 ft. of any polling place, or at the option of a church or private school that is a polling place, on any of that property

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

10 ILCS 5/17-29

Indiana

Within the polls or the chute (this is an area or pathway 50 ft. in length, measured from the entrance to the polls; if the property line is less than 50 ft. from the entrance, the chute extends halfway from the entrance to the property line)

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

I.C. § 3-14-3-16

I.C. § 3-5-2-10

Iowa

300 ft. of the outside door of the building where the polls are held

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Loitering

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

Iowa Code § 39A.4

Kansas

250 ft. of the entrance

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

K.S.A. § 25-2430

Kentucky

100 ft. of the entrance to a building where a voting machine is located on election day

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

K.R.S. § 117.235(3)

Louisiana 

600 ft. of polling place 

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature 

Campaign apparel 

Influencing Voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion 

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures 

Loitering 

La. Stat. Ann. § 18:1462 

Maine

250 ft. of the entrance

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues – Note: buttons of 3" or less are allowed

21-A M.R.S. § 682

Maryland

100 ft. from the entrance and exit

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Md. Code, Elec. Law § 16-206(b)

Massachusetts

150 ft. of the building entrance door

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 54 § 65

Michigan

100 ft. from the entrance to a building where a polling place is located

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Displaying election-related material

M.C.L. § 168.931(j)

M.C.L.A. 168.744

Minnesota

100 ft. of the building where a polling place is located

apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Other: Intoxicating liquor is prohibited

Minn. Stat. § 204C.06

Minn Stat. § 211B.11

Mississippi

150 ft. of any entrance to a building where an election is being held

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Miss. Code § 23-15-895

Missouri

25 ft. of the building's outer door closest to the polling place

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Polls/exit polls

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.637(18)

Montana 

100 ft. of any entrance to the building where a polling place is located, or any location where a voter may obtain or cast a ballot, at any time the polling place is opened—not just on Election Day. 

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards 

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion 

Polls/exit polls 

Other: Candidates, their family, and their campaign workers/volunteers cannot distribute alcohol, tobacco, food, drink, or anything of value 

M.C.A. § 13-35- 

Nebraska

200 ft. of polling place or any building designated for voters to cast ballots

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Projecting sounds referring to candidates/Issues

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-1524

Nevada

100 ft. from the entrance of the building or other structure where a polling place is located

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.740

New Hampshire

There are "no-electioneering corridors" that are at least 10 ft. wide and extend from all entrances to the polling place and extend "a reasonable distance along sidewalks or to the parking lots that serve the polling place"

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

N.H. Rev. Stat. § 659:43

New Jersey

100 ft. of the polling place

Loitering

Voter intimidation/Interfering with voter

Obstructing entrance/hindering Voter

apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:34-6

N.J Rev. Stat. § 19:34-19

New Mexico

100 ft. of the building where a polling place is located or the door through which voters enter to vote

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

N.M. Stat. § 1-20-16

New York

100 ft. from entrances to a building where the election is being held

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/Placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Other: Providing or purchasing meat, drink, tobacco, refreshment or other provision with a retail value of more than $1is prohibited in polling places (see statue for exceptions).

N.Y. Elec. Law § 8-104, 17-140

North Carolina

Dimensions of the buffer zone are set by the county board of elections and must not be less than 25 ft. nor more than 50 ft. from the door of entrance to the voting place

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

Other: Includes a broad ban on "election-related activity"

N.C.G.S. § 163-166.4

North Dakota

100 ft. from the entrance to the room containing the polling place

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/Political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

peddling/advertising

N.D.C.C. § 16.1-10-03, -06, -06.2

Ohio

Within the area between the polling place and the small U.S. flags placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place, and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags, within 10 ft. of any elector in line. Flags are placed 100 ft. from the polling place.

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Loitering

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

Ohio Rev. Code § 3501.35 and .30

Oklahoma

300 ft. of the entrance to the polling place or line of voters

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures 

Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 7-108

Oregon

100 ft. measured radially from any entrance to a building designated for the deposit of ballots

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

O.R.S. § 260.695

Pennsylvania

10 ft. from the polling place

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

25 Pa. Stat. § 3060

Rhode Island

50 ft. of the entrance of the building where voting is conducted

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

RI ST § 17-19-49

South Carolina

200 ft. of any entrance used by the voters to enter the polling place

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

S.C. Code § 7-25-180

South Dakota

100 ft. from any entrance leading into a polling place

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

S.D.C.L. § 12-18-3

Tennessee

100 ft from the designated entrances to the building where the election is held

Campaign apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

peddling/advertising

Other: Certain counties may extend the 100 ft. boundary

Tenn. Code § 2-7-111

Texas

100 ft. of an outside door through which a voter may enter a building in which a polling place is located

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues

Loitering

Apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Tex. Elec. Code § 61.003 and .004

Tex. Elec. Code § 61.010

Utah

150 ft. of the building where a polling place is located

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

Other: It is prohibited to "engage in any practice that interferes with the freedom of voters to vote or disrupts the administration of the polling place"

Utah Code § 20A-3a-501

Vermont

On the walks and driveways leading to a building in which a polling place is located

Voter intimidation/interfering with voter

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

Apparel/buttons/stickers/placards

Other: "During polling hours, the presiding officer shall control the placement of signs on the property of the polling place in a fair manner."

17 V.S.A. § 2508

Virginia

40 ft. of the entrance of a polling place

Campaign and referendum materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Loitering

Obstructing entrance/hindering voter

Va. Code § 24.2-604

Washington

100 ft, from the entrance of a vote center or 25 ft. radially from a ballot drop box

Projecting sounds Referring to candidates/issues

Other: Within a voting center, it is prohibited to suggest or persuade any voter, circulate cards or handbills, solicit petition signatures, engage in any practice which interferes with the freedom of voters to exercise their franchise or disrupts the administration of the voting center, obstruct doors or entries or prevent free access.

R.C.W. § 29A.84.510

West Virginia

100 ft. of the outside entrance to a building housing a polling place

Loitering

W.V. Code § 3-1-37

Wisconsin

100 ft. of an entrance to a building containing a polling place

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Wis. Stat. § 12.03 and .035

Wyoming

100 yards of any public entrance to the building in which a polling place is located

Campaign materials/signs/banners/literature

Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion

Circulating petitions/soliciting signatures

Polls/exit polls – Note: exit polls conducted by the media are allowed; all other polls are prohibited

Other: Disturbing a polling place consists of creating any disorder or disruption at a polling place or interfering with the orderly conduct of an election

Wyo. Stat. § 22-26-113 and 114

Arkansas

"(d) Displaying a candidate's name, likeness, or logo;

(e) Displaying a ballot measure's number, title, subject, or logo; 
(f) Displaying or dissemination of buttons, hats, pencils, pens, shirts, signs, or stickers containing electioneering information."

§ 7-1-103(8)

California

“(a) A display of a candidate’s name, likeness, or logo.

(b) A display of a ballot measure’s number, title, subject, or logo.

(c) Buttons, hats, pencils, pens, shirts, signs, or stickers containing electioneering information.”

§ 319.5

Delaware

“The wearing of any button, banner or other object referring to issues, candidates or partisan topics…”

Title 15, § 4942

Indiana

"Wearing or displaying an article of clothing, sign, button, or placard that states the name of any political party or includes the name, picture, photograph, or other likeness of any currently elected federal, state, county, or local official."

§ 3-14-3-16

Kansas

“Wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election or clearly indicate support or opposition to a question submitted election within any polling place”

§ 25-2430(a)

Maine

"...campaign literature, posters, palm cards, buttons, badges or stickers containing a candidate's name or otherwise intending to influence the opinion of any voter regarding a candidate for an office or question that is on the ballot for the election that day." The statute provides an exception for campaign buttons that do not exceed 3 inches and are worn by people at the polling place solely for the purpose of voting.

§682

Michigan

"...any material that directly or indirectly makes reference to an election, a candidate, or a ballot question."

§ 168.744

Minnesota

"A political badge, political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the polling place on primary or election day."

Montana

“Any badge, button, or other insignia that is designed or tends to aid or promote the success or defeat of any candidate or ballot issue to be voted upon at the election.”

§ 13-35-211(1)

Nebraska

"...the deliberate, visible display or audible or physical dissemination of information for the purpose of advocating for or against [a candidate,] including 
"(i) Such a candidate's name, likeness, logo, or symbol;

(ii) Such a ballot measure's number, title, subject matter, logo, or symbol;

(iii) A button, hat, pencil, pen, shirt, sign, or sticker containing information prohibited by this section."

§ 32 154

Nevada

"...Buying, selling, wearing or displaying any badge, button or other insigne which is designed or tends to aid or promote the success or defeat of any political party or a candidate or ballot question to be voted upon at that election."

293.740

New Hampshire

"The distribution or posting of electioneering communications, including but not limited to posters, cards, handbills, placards, pictures, pins, stickers, circulars, or articles of clothing, is prohibited within any no-electioneering corridor..."

659:43

New Jersey

“Display, sell, give or provide any political badge, button or other insignia to be worn…”

§ 19:34-19

New Mexico

"The display or distribution of signs or campaign literature, campaign buttons, t-shirts, hats, pins or other such items..."

§ 1-20-16

New York

“…no political banner, button, poster or placard shall be allowed in or upon the polling place…”

§ 8-104(1)

North Dakota

"No such political badge, button, or insignia may be worn within that same area while a polling place is open for voting."

§ 16.1-10-03

Rhode Island

"...any political party button, badge, or other device..."

§ 19-49

South Carolina

“If the candidate enters the polling place, he may not display any of this identification including, but not limited to, campaign stickers or buttons.”

§ 7-25-180(B)

Tennessee

“The display of campaign posters, signs or other campaign materials, distribution of campaign materials, and solicitation of votes for or against any person, political party, or position on a question are prohibited.”

§ 2-7-111(b)(1)

Texas

“…a person may not wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the polling place’

§ 61.010(a)

Vermont

“…no campaign literature, stickers, buttons, name stamps, information on write-in candidates, or other political materials are displayed, placed, handed out, or allowed to remain.”

Title 17, § 2508(a)