ELECTIONEERING: Not free speech

Another wannabe constitutional scholar has chosen to demonstrate their (mis)understanding of the First Amendment by contending that restrictions on electioneering are an improper restraint of free speech.

It should be known by now that the First Amendment does not universally allow people to say what they want, when they want and where they want. Laws to prevent electioneering at polling places are long-established limitations. They serve a valuable purpose in creating an environment where people can vote without intimidation or disruption. Idaho’s laws are very clear as to what is permissible and are not especially onerous in their limitations.

The poll worker in question had a choice. If electioneering was a priority for her, she should not have volunteered to work the polls. Then she would have had the whole day to electioneer to her heart’s content…in accordance with the law.

By volunteering to work the polls, she also volunteered to suspend her electioneering interests for the time she was working. In fact, she committed herself to that by accepting the duties of a poll worker.

She reneged on that commitment and disrespected the process as well as the voters of that precinct by repeatedly refusing to follow the requirements of her role.

Anyone who even pretends to care about election integrity should reject this person’s actions, as well as the actions of those who support her. We deserve better.

MIKE HENGGELER

Coeur d’Alene