Thursday, October 29th 2020, 5:47 am
As early in-person voting begins, the Wagoner County Election Board has said that it will be cracking down on anyone who may be trying to influence voters through, what they call, electioneering.
Signs posted around polling places across the state remind voters to avoid electioneering. Actions like putting up political signs, wearing clothes, masks or other items to promote a candidate or issue that is on the ballots are all categorized as electioneering and could result in a fine or even jail time.
State law says that electioneering is not allowed within 300 feet of the ballot box while voting is in progress, and violations can carry a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail, a $10,000 fine or even both.
Wagoner County Election Board Secretary Samantha Call said that she has been in touch with local law enforcement and they could be contacted if people refuse to follow the law.
"When you have elections that are this passionate, people can feel uncomfortable when they go to vote and so, we want everyone to feel comfortable when they come in to vote,” said Call. “We all have that right and we shouldn't feel like we're being intimidated by anyone."
According to Call anything representing "Black Lives Matter" or "Blue Lives Matter" does not count as electioneering as it is not an issue on the ballot.
Wagoner County has two early voting locations, the County Election Board and Heritage United Methodist Church in Broken Arrow.
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