Nearly half of US states have restrictions on what you can wear to vote

As you prepare to head to the polls to vote, the only thing you really need is a valid ID. But there are certain states where you may also want to do a suitability check before going to the polling place.

There are 21 states in the US that ban what you can wear to polling places. These laws consider certain items of clothing or accessories a form of election campaigning – in other words, influencing someone else’s vote – and you will be rejected.

Each state is different. Some ban campaign clothing within 50 feet of a polling place, and some go so far as to ban things like pencils associated with a candidate or campaign.

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In California, voters cannot wear campaign clothing, buttons or stickers within 100 feet of a polling place or an election official’s office. This includes hats or t-shirts that display the candidate’s name, image or logo.

If you live in Michigan, you may not use any material that directly or indirectly references an election, candidate, or election issue within 100 feet of the entrance to a building where a polling place is located.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has an updated list of state laws regarding election advertising bans. While you should check your individual state’s statutes before voting, these are the 21 states that have some type of dress restrictions: