But other than training for how to respond in a mass shooting or studying up on what actions define voter intimidation, state laws about guns and voter intimidation are a patchwork of wildly varying regulations. Most election officials sort through a hodgepodge of laws about concealed weapons and open carry, and take into account whether the polling place is on private or public property, to figure out whether a gun-toting voter is allowed in.

In fact, some state laws on guns could even be interpreted as counterproductive to voter safety. In Pennsylvania, for instance, voters can bring a handgun or rifle with them to vote — but law enforcement has to stay at least 100 feet from the polling booth. In South Carolina, you can’t bring an open carry handgun into the polling booth, but you can bring an open carry rifle or other long gun inside.

According to the nonprofit Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which tracks state gun laws, there are six states that generally prohibit bringing guns in polling places (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas). Another four ban concealed carry guns in polling places (Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina), but it gets complicated when you drill down into their open carry laws.