Judge rules on WWE garb at polls

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - A joint motion was filed Wednesday by WWE lawyers along with the Secretary of the State's office to clear up what can and should not be worn when you go to vote on Tuesday.

Tuesday evening, WWE CEO Vince McMahon, the husband of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, said he was going to federal court to make sure state election officials did not prohibit people from wearing WWE shirts and other paraphernalia when they go to vote.

In a lightning-fast resolution, a U.S. District Court judge issued what's called a stipulated order Wednesday that says voters can wear anything they want, as long as long it does not include the name or likeness of any candidate.

Click here to read the stipulated order

But any confusion that Vince McMahon, the WWE and anyone else may have had appears to have been caused by Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.

"We want to make it very clear to election officials across the state that no one will be denied the right to vote based on what they're wearing, including WWE t-shirts."

Honorable Janet Bond Arterton's order complies with the state's election neutrality law.

It states: "It is hereby ordered, adjudged, and decreed that Defendant and each of her agents, servants, employees and representatives, and those persons acting in concert or participation with them or any of them, SHALL NOT apply the election laws of the State of Connecticut to prohibit Plaintiff and other voters from wearing WWE clothing, paraphernalia or merchandise within 75 feet of polling places on November 2, 2010.

“Any clothing, paraphernalia or merchandise, which actually bears the name, likeness or campaign logo of any candidate for office shall remain subject to Connecticut General Statutes Section 9-236."

"I think there was some misinformation out there,” Secretary of the State Bysiewicz said. “I think there was also a misunderstanding about our state law because it's very important also that voters have a neutral place to vote."

WWE/CEO Vince McMahon, the husband of Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon, filed a a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to prohibit any policy that allowed election workers to tell voters they had to cover up any WWE merchandise within 75 feet of polling areas.

Susan Bysiewicz told News 8 and other news organizations on Friday night, October 22:

"Since Linda McMahon is so closely associated with that company, we said that if people are wearing paraphernalia that is very prominent in a polling place that may not be appropriate because polling places are supposed to be neutral."