Because as we all know the rules don't apply to the Clintons:
Petition to arrest Bill Clinton for campaigning in a West Roxbury polling place gets 82K signatures
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Former President Bill Clinton visited a West Roxbury polling place on Election Day, March 1, 2016, to urge voters to support his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Shira Schoenberg |
sschoenberg@repub.com
Print Email Rebecca Everett |
reverett@masslive.com By Rebecca Everett |
reverett@masslive.com
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on March 03, 2016 at 11:08 AM, updated March 03, 2016 at 11:19 AM
2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE
WEST ROXBURY -- More than 82,000 people have electronically signed a petition that calls for the arrest of former President Bill Clinton after he went inside a polling place in a Boston suburb and shook hands, which many feel violates Massachusetts election law.
Brian McNiff, a spokesman for Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, told WCVB that Clinton didn't break the law because he wasn't handing out voting materials for Hillary Clinton. He also held a rally outside a New Bedford polling place and went into a polling place in Newton.
But the petition, which the Daily Dot reported was started by Bernie Sanders supporter Veronica Wolski of Chicago, states that the former president was clearly campaigning at the polls.
"Bill Clinton does not vote in Massachusetts, and would have no other business in a polling station on election day besides campaigning for his wife," the petition on Change.org states.
Even if he did violate the state law regarding campaigning at polling places, the crime is punishable by a fine of no more than $20.
State election laws prohibit "solicitation of votes for or against, or any other form of promotion or opposition of, any person or political party" within 150 feet of a polling place.
Galvin told the New York Times that he did have to tell poll workers that Clinton could not be campaigning inside the building.
"Even a president can't go inside and work a polling place," he told the newspaper. "He can go in, but he can't approach voters."
The video inside the Holy Name Church gymnasium in West Roxbury shows Clinton shaking hands with poll workers, but it isn't clear if he spoke to voters inside. He waved, saluted and gave thumbs up to voters and volunteers, according to a report by a Republican reporter. Outside, he shook hands, posed for pictures, and kissed an old lady on the top of her head.
McNiff said March 1 that Hillary Clinton's campaign has been "notified of the state rules.