WWE announced in a press release Thursday that it will be distributing free apparel next Tuesday in celebration of its “victory of restoring voters’ right to wear WWE clothing at the polls.”
Earlier this week, WWE CEO Vince McMahon challenged a directive prohibiting Connecticut voters from wearing WWE merchandise to the polls on election day. Backed by Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, the prohibition felt that US Senatorial candidate Linda McMahon’s past affiliation with WWE linked her campaign to the company, thereby transforming WWE merchandise into political paraphernalia. Voters are banned from donning political paraphernalia inside polling locations.
The state ultimately backed down, acknowledging that voters are free to wear merchandise that promotes WWE, insofar as it does not specifically promote Linda McMahon.
As a celebration of that success, WWE will be distributing merchandise near select polling locations on election day. “Out of respect for voters from all political parties, WWE will not be handing out merchandise within 75 feet of polling locations, and merchandise will be available on a first come, first served basis.”
