Election Day 2020: The 'T Shirt Rule' Now Applies To Masks

CONNECTICUT — The T-shirt rule is now the mask rule at polling places in Connecticut.

Welcome to voting amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I remember one year I walked in to vote and someone pointed to my T-shirt," which was from a candidate," one campaign volunteer from Tolland said Tuesday. "I forgot I had the shirt on and had to quickly leave the polling place and put something over before going back in to vote. Now we have to be aware of what's on our masks."

A moderator in Vernon pointed out that apparel cannot "physically endorse" any particular candidate within 75 feet of a polling place, especially inside the polling place. During the pandemic, the rule was "re-interpreted" to include masks, she said.

Things like generic elephant or donkey party symbols are fine, but no candidate images or names are allowed on the masks while voting, the moderator said.

Shelby Jones of Vernon chuckled at the thought. He "sort of on purpose" wore his Vernon Lacrosse Association mask Tuesday.

"I have to promote the program," said Jones, who coaches three girls teams in the program.

Other coronavirus precautions included a box of pens, one for each voter, and socially distant spacing at voting booths.