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Voters sue for the right to selfie

Oct 29, 2016 12:45 am

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential three New York City residents are suing the state and New York City boards of election in an effort to eliminate a state law that forbids voters from showing a marked-up ballot. Doing so is currently a misdemeanor under state election law. The suit was filed Wed., Oct. 27, in Manhattan federal court. The plaintiffs argue that ballot selfies have become a common form of political expression. In a similar case filed in the state of Michigan, the court found "the prohibition on ballot selfies reaches and curtails the speech rights of all voters.” State Board of Elections spokesman John Conklin said the board is reviewing the lawsuit. Conklin clarified the existing law to county boards of election commissioners in a memo, Thursday. “With regard to selfies specifically you can take a picture of yourself voting as long as it does not show a voted ballot, or how you voted,” he wrote. Conklin also noted no one in recent memory has been prosecuted for showing off a completed ballot. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

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