Do you have your Election Day wardrobe carefully picked out?

Don’t wear red. An election worker might think you’re pushing the Republican ticket.

Don’t wear blue, as that’s a clear statement of support for the Democrats.

Texan Kay Hill found out her clothing wasn’t appropriate when she went to vote early. The Taylor woman wore a T-shirt with “Vote the Bible,” including a big red check mark, on the front.

Hill told media in Texas the election workers forced her to cover the T-shirt before they allowed her to cast a ballot. She says they were concerned the statement might off end other voters.

In the aftermath, the local oftcials are shifting gears.

They say their problem wasn’t with the “Bible” reference. The word “Vote” was offensive to them.

Huh?

“Electioneering or loitering within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place or inside the polling place is not allowed,” Williamson County Public Aff airs Director Connie Watson told reporters.

“Electioneering would cover wearing a hat, a pen, a T-shirt or a sign that would indicate a position for a political party, candidate or a proposition.”

What were they concerned about? Was her T-shirt suddenly going to sway voters to elect a city council slate of Adam, Eve, Jonah, Ezekial, Joseph, Peter, Paul and Mary?

How many young people wearing “Rock the Vote” T-shirts have been tossed out of polling places?

Who knew a message on a T-shirt could be so troublesome? Were the election workers a little too sensitive?

Would you believe there was some confusion in Wacahoota, Fla., when a woman standing in the voting line with her friend Chadwick was overheard telling someone on her cellphone she was just “hanging with Chad.” The Secretary of State Election Defense Squad swarmed the polling place within seconds. It may take weeks to straighten it all out. OK, maybe don’t believe it.

You may have heard that more than 1.6 million Americans have pledged to write in their vote for president this year. Their candidate: Jesus.

So one would have to assume any bracelet, necklace, T-shirt or utterance invoking the name of the Messiah might result in one’s ouster from the polling place.

I didn’t see Jesus outside my early voting site at the Rodeo of the Ozarks waving a campaign sign. Oh, well. Candidates can’t be everywhere at once.

Does it strike anyone as ironic that a “Vote the Bible” T-shirt would raise concerns when, at least around here, so many voters are asked to go into churches to cast their ballots? I know, the space is free and churches are generous to off er up their space so county election oftcials don’t have to spend money on polling sites, but if we’re going to get all persnickety about a woman’s “Bible” shirt, let’s evaluate why Election Commission’s invite people into houses of worship to vote.

OK, I understand how an election worker might intercede if someone walks into the building wearing Obama or Romney masks from Halloween. But if we’re so sensitive about so-called electioneering, shouldn’t Obama and Romney both be barred from showing their faces at any polling site? At least make them wear a Homer Simpson or Shrek mask to avoid any interference with fair voting.

What does “Vote theBible” say specifi cally, anyway? In my church, one could fi nd members who would argue it favors Obama, others who say it demands a vote for Romney and still others who say neither man gets the Good Book’s endorsement.

Would “Vote the Constitution” be permissible? Why in heaven’s name not, or can I say that?

What about “Vote for America?”

Can a T-shirt suggest people “Vote Your Conscience?”

What would they have done had a guy put on a “Vote for Change” T-shirt?

Is that an endorsement of Obama or Romney or just an advertisement for disposable diapers?

Clearly this was an eff ort to create barriers for the T-shirt sloganists to cast their ballots. What’s next, voter ID?

Maybe it’s best to just walk into the polling site naked so nobody is off ended and no election worker gets worked up about possible political messages.

But if that’s what’s needed, they’re going to have to bring back the good ol’ days of election machines with curtains.

I’m all for transparency in government, but I’m not sure I need to see it among the electorate.

GREG HARTON IS THE OPINION PAGE EDITOR FOR NWA MEDIA.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/05/2012