There were actually some good reasons for those laws, but IMO they now do more harm than good. Which raises a question: If there’s a ballot measure to strike them down, how can I resist the urge to take a picture of my “yes” vote?
Most state laws making it a crime to photograph marked ballots were enacted as reform efforts in the early 20th century, as part of a broader campaign that saw the introduction of the secret ballot and the enactment of “other laws intended to prevent voter corruption and intimidation.”[19] Many such laws remain in force even though “the outright buying of votes has receded as a significant issue.”[19]
Jurisdictions that currently prohibit ballot selfies are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Illinois’s laws are the strictest of all. While most states with anti-ballot selfie laws make the offense a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, in Illinois, taking a ballot selfie is a felony punishable by 1–3 years in prison.[25][26]
Jurisdictions that currently allow ballot selfies or do not enforce laws against them are:
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
- the District of Columbia.
Jurisdictions where the law is currently unclear are:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Delaware
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia.
Well, today I learned a thing….
rip tumblr 