BLOOMFIELD, Conn. — As voters head to the polls, Connecticut is working to keep their eyes off of political bias.
For 24 hours on Election Day on Nov. 5, part of a Bloomfield mural will be covered up because it violates Connecticut statute.
According to the Connecticut General Assembly, the “75-foot rule” generally prohibits anyone from soliciting support for or opposition to a candidate or a ballot question within a 75-foot radius of the outside entrance to a polling place.
A person who violates the 75-foot rule commits a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to three months in prison, up to a $500 fine, or both.
The mural on the Alvin and Beatrice Wood Human Services Center in Bloomfield was created in 2021.
“It was made to inspire the youth of Bloomfield,” Brian Wolff, Bloomfield's community and engagement public relations coordinator said. “We are a community that is 55% Black, there’s a lot of Black children here and we want to show them that they can be anyone they want to be.”
Among those on the mural is presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Martin Luther King Jr., former President Barack Obama, singer and actress Anika Noni-Rose and NFL player Dwight Freeney.
Since Harris is on the wall, her portion will be covered because of the 75-foot rule.
“When you go to polling sites or the early voting site usually it relates more to campaign posters or individuals that are maybe out to support a candidate,” Wolff said when explaining the 75-foot rule.
Since the center in Bloomfield serves as a polling site, Wolff said, “We’re adhering to the state statue and we are going to cover it up on Election Day to make sure we aren’t intimidating any voters or influencing any voters.”
Some residents have mixed opinions on this rule when it comes to the mural.
“I think that it makes it a little bit more obvious to the situation but if they do think that her face is going to cause an influence then maybe they should cover it up,” Bloomfield resident Dia Denny said.
“I don’t care about it being for one day it shouldn’t be covered up,” Tracy Funnye said. “How long this been up here, 365 days since they had it up right? I don’t see the reason why they’re covering this mural up…we’ve been covered up for 400 years so why are we going to cover this up one day?”
Kaye Paddyfote is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. She can be reached at kpaddyfote@fox61.com. Follow her on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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