Polling Place Question

[camlott]

Think I made a mistake...
Walked into the grocery store this morning, once I was inside I noticed the "Vote Here" sign.

Since I was with probably 15 feet of the voting booth when I saw the sign, I continued with my shopping trip. Just made it a VERY quick one!

Other than a small sign on the door that said Vote Here, there were no other signs notifying me that this was a polling place. All other signage was literally at the voting booth. Does anyone know the requirements for polling places as far as any requirements to post signs notifying the public that it is a polling place?

[5thGenTexan]

You're kidding right, in the grocery store? I would think there would be a no electioneering sign at the magic 50 foot mark to warn people to remove their Perry, Medina, or Hutchison pins before they were in violation of the election code.

[austin-tatious]

I really would like some informed info on this one. Our early voting location is in a Randall's, in a corner of the store. Is the whole store verbotten? Just within 50 feet of that corner? Or what?

[marksiwel]

The Randalls in Cedar Park had signs on the door about not wearing Buttons ect

[joe817]

You're kidding right, in the grocery store? I would think there would be a no electioneering sign at the magic 50 foot mark to warn people to remove their Perry, Medina, or Hutchison pins before they were in violation of the election code.

Bold highlight is State law. In addition to the bazillion yard signs that you would have seen posted all over the place. Plus the election judges at the polling site are....well, very businesslike, to say the least.

[austin-tatious]

The Randall's I referred to does have a notice by the entrances that it is a polling place, but there are not any election posters, signs, or stickers anywhere to be seen.

I have assumed the whole store was off-limits for CC. Does anyone know different?

[joe817]

The Randall's I referred to does have a notice by the entrances that it is a polling place, but there are not any election posters, signs, or stickers anywhere to be seen.

I have assumed the whole store was off-limits for CC. Does anyone know different?

PC 46.03"
"Sec. 46.03. PLACES WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):
(1)
(2)on the premises of a polling place on the day of an election or while early voting is in progress;..."

You'd have to narrowly define "premise" to be absolutely certain, but if it were me, I wouldn't take any chances and NOT carry in the entire grocery store, and go somewhere else to by groceries. But that's just me.

[camlott]

I haven't been in since early voting began... but our local mall is also an early voting location. Does that make the entire mall off limits?

[marksiwel]

I haven't been in since early voting began... but our local mall is also an early voting location. Does that make the entire mall off limits?

I assume so.

[C-dub]

There's this thread from a while back.

http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... ling+place" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HankB]

Early-voted yesterday at my local Randall's store before doing some shopping there.

Don't like the law, don't agree with it, think it's asinine . . . but I Ieft my pistol locked in my vehicle.

[wgoforth]

I am an election judge and unfortunately the entire facility becomes the polling place. HOWEVER, if you are a customer in the store and not voting, there is no way for the poll workers to do anything. That is the job of the judge, and the judges are not present at the early voting. For that matter, you also cannot bring a cell phone to the polling area... can you imagine trying to get everyone in the store to leave their cellies in the car or confiscate them?

[marksiwel]

I am an election judge and unfortunately the entire facility becomes the polling place. HOWEVER, if you are a customer in the store and not voting, there is no way for the poll workers to do anything. That is the job of the judge, and the judges are not present at the early voting. For that matter, you also cannot bring a cell phone to the polling area... can you imagine trying to get everyone in the store to leave their cellies in the car or confiscate them?

Whoops, had my phone on me, but I turned it off

[wgoforth]

I am an election judge and unfortunately the entire facility becomes the polling place. HOWEVER, if you are a customer in the store and not voting, there is no way for the poll workers to do anything. That is the job of the judge, and the judges are not present at the early voting. For that matter, you also cannot bring a cell phone to the polling area... can you imagine trying to get everyone in the store to leave their cellies in the car or confiscate them?

Whoops, had my phone on me, but I turned it off

They prefer no phones at all. Even when on vibrate or no ring mode. The concern is the audio/visual equipment aspect. As I say, in early voting, not a lot they can do and with smaller crowd of people they can watch for anyone recording more easily anyway.

[southboundp]

Here's another little twist. Books-A-Million is a polling location in Abilene. That particular store is "in the mall." There are both exteral entrances to the store, as well as internal entrances from the mall itself. Is the ENTIRE MALL off limits, or just the store? Thank you.