Civil disobedience? Or voter intimidation? Some might beg to differ considering what the Trump candidacy has predicated itself on and has already signaled to its supporters about this election being “rigged”. IMO, you can’t leave that out of the discussion as far as the overall context in this particular election.
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When I look at the man in the photo I see fear.
Wide coverage of this type polling place arrest and the display of unflattering arrestee mugshots will ease the crazy more than pundits bleating for peace…
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Texas is one of only six states that bans guns from polling places. What is wrong with the other states, I do not know. We do have some stupid gun laws, but we also have a few sane ones.
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Yeah. Think he would make the same speech to an African-American wearing a “Trump that Bitch” or “Hillary for Prison 2016” shirt at a polling place?
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Bbbbbbbuuuttt…He’s a gawwd’ fearin member of the party of “law & order”!! How could he not know?
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Inasmuch as this has happened before Trump was ever imagined to be a candidate, inasmuch as I’ve seen this happen every single election, and inasmuch as I’ve seen it happen from people who were supporting liberal candidates or conservative, I tend to think, yea they are just being assholes usually.
I am sorry but I don’t know how you intimidate someone with a tee shirt unless it says something threatening or obscene, which arguably “Trump” is. But I see it as illegal electioneering.
I am way more concerned about the possibility of hidden intimidation - the kind the people in charge of polling places are responsible for.
But I’m not defending him - just saying, it’s a tee shirt and this happens every election.
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This is pretty stupid. Whatever I might think of the guy, his politics and attire, nobody should go to jail for wearing a t-shirt. “Electioneering” laws should be reformed to cover things like shouting slogans, engaging with other voters, handing out buttons, etc. A t-shirt should not count.
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OT, yesterday, on our 1st day of early voting, we got an ‘alert’ from our parks district warning us that rec centers with polling stations were jammed with people and no parking spaces were available fro those trying to get to their Zumba class. Yay! [edited for spelling, oy vay]
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Wear a shirt over it that you can button up IF needed.
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It’s not unusual for people to not know they cannot wear anything political to the polls. And this was clearly a political t-shirt. It happens. Most people are not so stupid as to insist on having their way. Expensive and useless protest of a reasonable rule. The man is a fool. Looking this up, I think he can be fined $500.
Another rule is for candidates. Unless they are voting they cannot be in the polling place. 
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A “Basket of Deplorables” T-shirt on this man constitutes a bit of redundant messaging I think.
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Book. Cover. Don’t. I know some very nice red faced overweight white men in TX.
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Talking to people to calm them down and try to talk some sense into them is their job. The police chief was just as likely to be agreeing that we have a right to our opinions and not necessarily saying he agreed with his politics.
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Looks like he is ‘of color’ to me, though not one of the colors usually associated with the phrase.
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That makes no sense. A slogan on a button is different from a slogan on a t-shirt? I think it is an excellent rule.
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Don’t feel bad, your state is not alone on that matter.
Signed:
Kentucky
(And all the others)
Texas…says it all
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I looked up my state’s electioneering rules for voters:
When you go vote, you can wear clothing, buttons or stickers with political messages, but you must leave the early voting center or polling place immediately after voting.
Looks like my puddy cat ears are a go!
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Yes, I’m sure they make many boat payments for Texas cardiologists.
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I mean handing out buttons/t-shirts, etc. Being arrested just for wearing a slogan seems the height of censorship, I’m fine with prohibiting actual campaigning but not simple expression.