Can you have Doordash delivered while in line to vote? Here’s what Texas law says
Many Texans will head to their nearest polling site over the next two weeks to cast their ballots in the Nov. 5 general election.
The Star-Telegram put together an election guide on just about every race in Tarrant County and at the statewide level. To read what candidates said about the upcoming election, take a look at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram voter guide.
Waiting in line to vote is nearly a foregone conclusion for most Texans in this election. So what if you get hungry in line and want to order something while you wait? Is that legal?
Here’s what to know:
Can you have food delivered while in line to vote in Texas?
Yes, but you have to stick to the law.
Texas Election Code section 61.010 states that a person is not allowed to wear political regalia while voting at the polls. This means that the delivery person can’t be wearing Donald Trump or Kamala Harris-related merchandise.
“A person may not wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the polling place or within 100 feet of any outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is located,” the law states.
Additionally, Texas Penal Code section 36.02 states that a person commits bribery when they intentionally or knowingly offer another person:
“Any benefit as consideration for the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official, or voter.”
If the person delivering food is not trying to influence someone’s vote, that is legal in Texas. But if they are trying to influence someone’s vote with food, that is illegal.
How to get free pizza at the polls
Pizza to the Polls is a nonpartisan nonprofit that delivers pizza to crowded polling locations.
The nonprofit was born just before the 2016 general election after long lines were reported at early voting locations across the country. Organizers wanted to support the awaiting voters by delivering pizzas to the crowd, and thus, Pizza to the Polls was formed.
Anyone can send pizzas to lines through the nonprofit’s submission forms, which ask for a few details about the polling location. After the order is verified, voters only have to wait for the pizza to arrive.
Pizza to the Polls utilizes the Slice pizza delivering service to order pies from local restaurants and deliver them to voters. For more on Pizza to the Polls, visit https://polls.pizza/.
This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 11:12 AM.
