Ashley Aune, a Missouri State Representative, was widely mocked on Twitter for reporting a poll worker who dared to wear “elephant earrings” at the voting station.
Aune, who represents the 14th District, covering the north of Kansas City, tweeted on Tuesday morning about her experience at the polls. “The poll worker who took my ID was wearing elephant earrings, so I called my local election board,” Aune said, seemingly taking umbrage with the poll worker’s choice of jewellery due to the fact that elephants are associated with Republicans.
According to Missouri poll worker guidelines, solicitation is banned within 25 feet of the polling place, which includes “wearing campaign shirts, hats, pins,” and other items. “I need y’all to know that’s not okay and as a voter, you have every right to call it out,” Aune said.
Just voted!
The poll worker who took my ID was wearing elephant earrings, so I called my local election board.
I need y’all to know that’s not okay and as a voter, you have every right to call it out.
MO voters: If you have an issue at the polls today, call 314.499.2939
— Rep. Ashley Aune (@Ashley4MO) November 8, 2022
However, simply wearing elephant earrings, with no political affiliation, would not necessarily violate those guidelines, or Missouri state law, which specifically prohibits “exit polling, surveying, sampling, electioneering, distributing election literature, posting signs or placing vehicles bearing signs with respect to any candidate or question to be voted on at an election on election day.”
Unsurprisingly, Aune was slammed as a “Karen” by many on her Twitter for reporting a poll worker for liking an animal, including fellow Missourian Chris Lonsdale, currently running for the State House in District 38.
Rep. Ashley Aune admits to being a Karen on election day
— Chris Lonsdale (@ChrisLonsdaleKC) November 8, 2022
Her alter-ego is “Super-Karen.”
— Mr Reagan 🇺🇸 (@MrReaganUSA) November 8, 2022
Did it affect the way you voted, Karen?
— Aldous Huxley's Ghost™ (@AF632) November 8, 2022
The Missouri State Rep didn’t take too kindly to being labelled with the “Karen” moniker, demanding that one Twitter user call her “Representative Aune.”
It’s actually “Representative Aune”
— Rep. Ashley Aune (@Ashley4MO) November 8, 2022
Others joked that any poll workers wearing blue clothing, such as jeans, were in fact, secretly signalling their support for the Democrats to undecided voters.
You're kidding, right? Should I have reported the poll worker wearing all blue? Sure, I don't know if she meant it to be a Democrat thing BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
Holy crap, get a brain.
— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) November 8, 2022
I applaud your courage.
The poll worker who took my ID today was wearing blue jeans. As I looked around in absolute horror, most of the others were too! So I called my local election board.
I need you all to know that’s not ok and you have every right to call it out!
— Just Another Nobody (@wittydimwit) November 8, 2022
However, Aune remained steadfast in her belief that the poll worker “knew what she was doing,” despite providing no supporting evidence, and that reporting her wasn’t a waste of time, because “it’s not about how [she feels]. It’s about breaking the law.”
That was not the case. She knew what she was doing. I know that from our initial interaction. And I also addressed it directly with my contact at our board of elections.
I made it public because I want to educate voters about what is and is not allowed with poll workers.
— Rep. Ashley Aune (@Ashley4MO) November 8, 2022
Do I think supporting free and fair and elections is worth my constituents’ time? Yes. Believe it or not, it’s one of the reasons they vote for me…
— Rep. Ashley Aune (@Ashley4MO) November 8, 2022
It’s not about how I feel. It’s about them breaking the law.
— Rep. Ashley Aune (@Ashley4MO) November 8, 2022
