[20180618]LSB10151_从喧闹到平静：投票站言论限制.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i From Clamor to Calm: Restrictions on Speech at Polling Places June 18, 2018 The Supreme Court recently issued its decision in Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, ruling on the constitutionality of a Minnesota statute that banned all “political” apparel from polling places. The Court acknowledged that courts should generally “respect” state laws that attempt to afford “the voter the opportunity to exercise his civic duty in a setting removed from the clamor and din of electioneering,” but ultimately held that the specific Minnesota provision challenged in that case violated the First Amendmenteven after reviewing it under the relatively forgiving standard of “reasonableness.” The Courts opinion may have significant implications for the governments ability to ban political speech in certain forums and, even more immediately, may cast doubt on other state laws regulating speech at polling places. Background The provision of the Minnesota statute challenged in this case provides that “a political badge, political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the polling place on