This historic 2008 presidential election has fostered hope and change. It has also lead to an increase in voter registration in record numbers among college students throughout the county.
However, these exceptions have not overshadowed the racial and political tensions among the voting constituents.
In early October, several anonymous e-mails circulated stating voters would not be allowed to wear campaign paraphernalia to the polls on Nov. 4.
According to the e-mails anyone wearing political paraphernalia would be turned away from the polls and not be permitted to cast their votes.
“This is not true at all,” said a Forsyth County Board of Elections representative.
“Voters can wear shirts, buttons, stickers and all other campaign paraphernalia.”
Stipulations, however, apply to campaigning. Campaigning for any candidate can not take place inside the building or within the 50-foot boundary at the Forsyth County Government Center in downtown Winston-Salem.
“I believe that people who sent the e-mails didn’t want to give voters a reason to be turned away,” said senior Corrine Bryant. Bryant cast her vote early when Winston-Salem State students marched to the polls Oct. 16. She was wearing political paraphernalia when she voted.
Some states, however, prohibit wearing campaign paraphernalia: Virginia, Maine, Montana, Vermont and Kansas.
A recent article in the Winston-Salem Journal stated that the Virginia State Board of Elections voted to ban clothing, hats and other paraphernalia at the polls.
This ban prevents people from wearing campaign items that directly advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate or issue.
The article also stated that the American Civil Liberties Union argued that these bans violate the First Amendment’s right to free speech.
The Virginia State Board of Elections stated that it had to weigh this argument against the right to vote free of undue influence or the tension that candidate advocacy might create.
Many WSSU students said they were relieved that this “paraphernalia rule” is not affecting N.C. elections.
“I was happy to hear that the e-mails were false, and I could wear paraphernalia when I vote,” said senior James Nance.
“I felt that it [the e-mail] was a way to keep people from electing a president that they were not supporting.”
Early voting took place at WSSU in the Anderson Center Oct. 27 to Nov. 1. The lines were dotted with people wearing political t-shirts, buttons and stickers. Nov. 4 is Election Day.
SGA will be providing free shuttle transportation to the Sims Recreation Center, the primary polling station for WSSU students, Election Day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.