Long lines, combined with brutal heat or cold, can make potential voters want to walk away from polling locations, but experts say giving them food and water can be risky.
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00:00Long lines, combined with brutal heat or cold, can make potential voters want to walk away
00:05from polling locations.
00:07But experts say giving them food and water can be risky.
00:11Experts say this can be viewed as quote electioneering, which refers to a political party taking actions
00:17to convince voters to support their candidate or party.
00:21The American Bar Association notes that it's unlawful in all 50 states to buy votes or
00:26bribe voters.
00:28Experts say each state gets to set their own electioneering limits.
00:32Most states require this to happen about 150 feet to 300 feet away from polls.
00:38Many people who want to hand out light refreshments are not affiliated with a political group.
00:43This would be described as quote line warming, which is an informal term for practices like
00:48providing items with minimal value to people waiting in line to vote.
00:53States like Florida and Arkansas ban this completely.
00:56Other states like Georgia and New York have tried to impose similar bans, but they were
01:00blocked by a federal court.