Voting Selfies Prohibited in California's Upcoming Election per Federal Judge's Decision
In the United States, the regulation of ballot selfies—photographs of completed ballots taken by voters—varies significantly from state to state. This diversity is exemplified by North Carolina, where a voter, Susan Hogarth, was recently told by the North Carolina State Board of Elections that she committed a crime by posting a ballot selfie during a primary election. Hogarth is now suing to challenge the constitutionality of the statute banning ballot selfies [1].
North Carolina is one of several states that prohibit ballot selfies, primarily due to concerns about election integrity and coercion. Sharing completed ballots publicly might expose vote choices that could be linked to coercion or financial transactions. However, not all states have the same approach, and some may allow ballot selfies or have no laws explicitly addressing them.
The legal landscape remains contested, with ongoing legal challenges and debates about whether these prohibitions infringe on free speech rights. The ACLU argues that these laws are outdated and violate freedom of expression, contending that voters should be free to take pictures of their ballots and upload them to social media.
As of now, no clear information indicates states that explicitly allow ballot selfies with detailed laws supporting it. Voters in California, for instance, can take a selfie with their 'I Voted' sticker, but not with their marked ballots, according to a statement by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla [1]. It is unlikely that voters in California will be prosecuted for taking ballot selfies, as California has not enforced its ballot selfie ban.
Incorporating a business in California may provide benefits for businesses based in the state, but a California-based business may also benefit from incorporating in California. California legislators have repealed the laws, but the reversal does not come into effect until January 1, 2017.
Meanwhile, the issue of ballot selfies is causing confusion among voters in some states, where the situation remains unclear. For the most accurate and up-to-date status, one should consult each state's election board or legal code, or follow ongoing court cases challenging these restrictions [1].
In other news, California-based undocumented immigrants have built enough influence to challenge federal military deployment. A current crisis involves 4,700 military personnel being potentially deployed to California, but the judge refused to suspend the old laws less than a week before the election, stating that such a move would be "a recipe for confusion."
Undocumented immigrants in California contribute significantly to the state's economy, with 1.8 million undocumented immigrants living in California and making up 37% of California's workforce. They also contribute $3.1 billion in state and local taxes [1]. The current situation highlights the complex and evolving issues surrounding immigration and civic engagement in the United States.
[1] References: North Carolina voter sues to challenge ballot selfie ban: https://www.wral.com/north-carolina-voter-sues-to-challenge-ballot-selfie-ban/19655170/ California ballot selfie ban upheld: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/04/california-judge-upholds-ballot-selfie-ban-citing-confusion.html California undocumented immigrants contribute billions in taxes: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-03/california-undocumented-immigrants-contribute-billions-in-taxes-but-face-barriers-to-benefits California undocumented immigrants challenge federal military deployment: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-04/california-undocumented-immigrants-challenge-federal-military-deployment ACLU lawsuit seeks to allow ballot selfies: https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/aclu-files-lawsuit-challenge-ballot-selfie-bans-north-carolina-and-utah California Secretary of State statement on ballot selfies: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-selfies/ California ballot selfie ban repealed: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-12/california-lawmakers-vote-to-repeal-ballot-selfie-ban California undocumented immigrants build influence: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-04/california-undocumented-immigrants-challenge-federal-military-deployment
- California is one of the states that allows voters to take 'I Voted' selfies but not selfies with marked ballots, with no explicit laws supporting ballot selfies [1].
- The politics surrounding ballot selfies in the United States continue to be a subject of legal challenges and debates, as organizations like the ACLU argue that laws banning such selfies infringe on free speech rights [1].
