By Karen Blackledge
DANVILLE -- A Valley Township woman vowed to risk arrest by wearing a political button into a polling place.
"I'm wearing it. So lock me up," Mary Ann Hackenberg, 68, of Normar Road, told the Montour County commissioners Tuesday.
She said the county election board's not allowing people to wear buttons, hats and pins into polling places was "taking away from me my rights."
She said she plans to wear a "pro-life" button with McCain and Palin on the bottom to the polling place Nov. 4.
Commissioners Chairman Trevor Finn said the Department of State issued a memo saying it is up to the county to determine if buttons, hats and other items are appropriate in polling places. The previous rule had been political garb and buttons were not allowed within 10 feet of a polling place.
"The commissioners have sent the Department of State a letter voicing their displeasure," Finn told Hackenberg. He said the commissioners are seeking clarification.
Commissioners Vice Chairman Jack Gerst said he was disappointed the state made a ruling so close to the election.
"I can't see where this would make any difference," Hackenberg, a Democrat, said of wearing the pin. Finn asked her what if Obama supporters flooded a polling place with stickers and hats.
"They've had two years to do all their campaigning and need to allow voters to vote in peace," he said.
Commissioner Jerry Ward told Hackenberg she could cover up the candidates' names and wear the pin. County Treasurer Kim Schooley said he was asked to turn his shirt, which had his name on it, when he ran last year for the office, inside out when he voted, and he complied.
Gerst said the ruling puts low-paid polling workers in a bad spot. "They are generally elderly women who have been doing this for a long time for a stipend not near minimum wage," Finn said. "They do it for love of country or to see their neighbors and all of a sudden, have to enforce certain rules," he said.
The Republican Party is suing the state over the ruling.
"We will work with our solicitor to look at certain rules and for any direction the Department of State will give us," Finn said.
E-mail comments to kblackledge@thedanvillenews.com.
