Illinois
Taking a ballot selfie is a felony in Illinois
Voters desirous to share their Election Day pleasure greatest not do it with a voting sales space selfie posted to social media. That’s a felony in Illinois.
June 28 is the first election in Illinois, however watch out to not take a self-portrait within the voting sales space except you might be able to probably face a felony cost.
Snapping a photograph of your filled-in poll and posting it on Fb or Instagram is technically a Class 4 felony in Illinois, which comes with a jail sentence of 1 to 3 years and a most superb of $25,000. In accordance with the Illinois Election Code, anybody who “knowingly” casts his or her poll in a manner that “will be noticed by one other individual” is breaking the regulation.
It seems the state has by no means charged an Illinois voter for taking a photograph of their poll and sharing it on social media. So why is that this regulation nonetheless on the books?
The intent behind the regulation is simple. It’s meant to discourage vote-buying: exhibiting the picture in change for money. However there are different legal guidelines in Illinois that explicitly outlaw vote-buying.
And there will be First Modification points with outlawing this type of political speech.
In 2016, a federal choose struck down New Hampshire’s poll selfie ban, deciding in response to vote-buying considerations that the ban was “burning down the home to roast the pig.”
From 2015 to 2016, Utah, Nebraska, Hawaii and California all handed laws permitting voters to {photograph} their ballots.
Illinois got here near overturning its ban in 2017. Earlier than he turned Illinois Home speaker, Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, filed a invoice that allowed voters to take photographs of their poll so long as they didn’t settle for any cash in change. The Home handed it overwhelmingly, however the Senate by no means took a vote.
Till the regulation modifications, Illinoisans who wish to categorical their civic pleasure are higher off sporting an “I Voted” sticker or taking a photograph outdoors their polling place.
Polls are open till 7 p.m., June 28.