TOLEDO, Ohio — While candidates and issues may be top of mind for voters while casting ballots at their polling locations, there's something else to consider, too: what you're wearing.
It has nothing to do with whether your shoes are open or closed-toe, though.
"I don't have any rules with what folks wear other than political apparel," said Tim Monaco, Republican Deputy Director of the Lucas County Board of Elections.
Voter Richard Wisniewski learned that firsthand when he walked into the Lucas County early voting center wearing a "Trump 2024" hat.
"The gentleman in there was very nice about it and said, 'hey, you can't wear that inside.' I said 'OK' and took it off," Wisniewski said. "Waited till we got outside and I was able to put it back on again."
Wearing political apparel of a candidate or issue currently on the ballot is forbidden in any Ohio polling site.
Monaco said wearing political messaging is considered "electioneering."
"Electioneering in Ohio includes things like hats, buttons, t-shirts," Monaco said. "We regularly come across this. We remind people, 'hey, can you cover this up?' We have folks come inside and flip shirts inside out, take off their hats."
The law also applies within 100 feet of a polling location, usually marked with a sign or a red line. You'll typically find dozens of political signs and campaigners toeing that border, though.
"It's just to create an area where voters can access the polling place free of pressure or free of campaigning and not having to deal with that. And that's been a longstanding law in Ohio," Monaco said.
Wisniewski said anyone who's asked to remove political apparel like he was should just do it.
"You don't want everybody causing trouble," Wisniewski said. "We're not here to do that, we're here to vote."
Monaco urged voters another law to remember at the polls: taking a selfie with your completed ballot is a felony in Ohio.