Photographing Elections – Know the Law In Your State
Election day is one of the most energized days of the year particularly when a U.S. President is being elected. As record crowds turn out and hype grows through out the day it’ll be very tempting for photographers to want to get out and document election day in their community. If you hear the call of the siren to do so be aware of the laws in your state. In California where I live there are very strict laws resticting photographers from photographing polling stations and voters casting ballots. Know the facts and respect the law. Below is a link documenting state laws as they relate to taking photographs on election day:
State Laws Vary on Polling Place Photography – Center for Citizen Media
Thanks to Gary Crabbe for the initial reference to this site.
Technorati Tags: election, state, law, photography, photographers
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Thanks for this post, Jim.
Quite informative, and non-partisan.
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Just a follow up…
I read the link you posted, for California, where I’m at too. It appears that if I’m voting myself, I CAN take photos.
“…with the intent of dissuading another person from voting…”
That seems to be included in both codes. So, if I’m taking a photo, and I’m voting too, I can be in the voting area. As long as I’m not trying to dissuade someone else from voting.
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From a source who shoots for the AP in California: media can shoot inside polling places, best to ask first and if someone wishes to not be photographed, respect their wishes. You must wait outside to interview them.
But this is specific to media, not the casual shooter as far as I know.
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That’s good info that may keep a lot of us out of hot water today. Thanks for sharing.
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I think I was allowed in because I said I’d be talking with NPR about the voting process; I made it clear that I am not a journo. But since I was not there to dissuade people from voting, I am not in violation of the law. The workers were very amiable about it in Yosemite.
Thanks for posting this, Jim. I’ve linked back to this article.
Edie
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[...] thanks to Jim Goldstein for linking to This page on the laws regarding photography at the [...]
Today at the Utah poll where I volunteered, an African-American woman in her 40s came in with her mom to vote, and they asked the poll workers to take their photos as they voted. No media were present; it was private moment that I was lucky to witness.
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