Editorial

Plan to take a ballot selfie? Check local laws before you do

Monday, October 24, 2016

If you're one of those who can't resist posting a picture of your lunch on Facebook or your cat on YouTube, you might be surprised to learn you might be subject to a fine for taking a selfie during a patriotic activity.

Until this year, you could have been fined $100 for sharing a photo of your market ballot in Nebraska.

Kudos to the Legislature for keeping up with changing technology by changing that law last year.

Don't try it in Kansas, however, where the secretary of state says a selfie showing a picture of the actual ballot violates state law.

It's technically OK in Wyoming, but election judges have the power to "preserve order at the polls by any necessary and suitable means."

It's a misdemeanor to take ballot selfies or otherwise disseminate images of a marked ballot in Colorado, where a 2016 repeal bill failed.

South Dakota doesn't allow ballot selfies because they can be considered influencing a vote or forcing someone to show proof of voting.

Missouri says ballot selfies are a "gray area," although law prohibits voters from allowing others to see their ballots if the intent is to show how they voted.

Iowa law outright prohibits the use of cameras, cellphones or other electronic devices in voting booths, so the secretary of state asks voters not to take selfies with ballots. Photos of absentee ballots, for some reason, are OK, however.

Secret ballots are one of the keys to our democracy, but so is First Amendment freedom of expression, especially if it is done to participate in the political process.

On the other hand, could ballot selfies be used to double-check voter registrations? Hmm...

In any case, voters who hope to influence others to choose their candidate by putting their face where their heart is, shouldn't be penalized by an overly-intrusive bureaucracy.

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