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Cameras in Voting Centers?
11/02/04 | RockAgainsttheLeft04

Posted on 11/02/2004 10:57:16 AM PST by RockAgainsttheLeft04

This is nothing but a vanity guys, but I was just wondering...

Well, are cameras allowed in the voting centers where you live (in your county, state, whatever)?

I just got back from doing my civic duty for Pres. Bush, Mobile congressman Jo Bonner, and Sen Richard Shelby, and I was quite surprised to find out from the poll workers at my voting center that my camera wasn't allowed INSIDE the voting center due to state law.

Weird, but true. I've heard from other people I know that this law is far from common in some other states, and that cameras are allowed within the confines of the voting center in Florida (next door neighbor state).

So I guess I would just like to hear what your state/county policy is on cameras/camcorders in the polling center. Anybody?


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: electionlaw; statelaw
Hope I posted this in the "vanity" section; but I was Just wondering if any non-Alabamians had this problem.
1 posted on 11/02/2004 10:57:17 AM PST by RockAgainsttheLeft04
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04

It's possible that the law is meant to assure the confidential nature of the voting process, or to prevent voters from photographing their ballot for vote selling schemes.

With today's camera equipped cell phones, this law will be very hard to enforce effectively.


2 posted on 11/02/2004 11:00:22 AM PST by Yo-Yo (John Kerry: The wrong candidate in the wrong election at the wrong time)
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04

I dunno. I brought mine but it was in my pocket -- just in case. Nothing exciting happened except one guy was arguing with a poll worker who I heard say "you have no idea what you're talking about." I wonder if he was trying to cause trouble. I noticed a church member of ours was next in line and listening to the whole thing, so I'll have to ask him later.


3 posted on 11/02/2004 11:05:26 AM PST by Terriergal ("Woe to you...Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!"Matthew 23:23a,24)
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04

In Wisconsin, it is illegal to take pictures unless it's for "file footage".


4 posted on 11/02/2004 11:10:48 AM PST by steveegg (If you're reading this, your poll is open, and you haven't voted for Bush/Cheney, do so NOW!)
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To: Yo-Yo
...With today's camera equipped cell phones, this law will be very hard to enforce effectively....

Coworker reported this morning that they made everyone turn off their cellphones before entering the polling place.

5 posted on 11/02/2004 11:14:17 AM PST by FReepaholic (Proud FReeper since 1998. Proud monthly donor.)
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To: Yo-Yo

Well, maybe, but it just seems to me that state law leaves the voters of Alabama with no legal means with which to check the powers of local poll workers, and that seems dangerous to me.

No cameras or camcorders, and no one is allowed to remain inside the voting center after they have cast their vote but the poll workers? C'mon! Isn't it our individual right to ensure fairness and accuracy by the poll workers of our precinct? How can civilians be barred from "watching" the "watchers" ?


6 posted on 11/02/2004 11:22:19 AM PST by RockAgainsttheLeft04 ("America...F**K YEAH !" -Team America: World Police)
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To: Yo-Yo

Well, maybe, but it just seems to me that state law leaves the voters of Alabama with no legal means with which to check the powers of local poll workers, and that seems dangerous to me.

No cameras or camcorders, and no one is allowed to remain inside the voting center after they have cast their vote but the poll workers? C'mon! Isn't it our individual right to ensure fairness and accuracy by the poll workers of our precinct? How can civilians be barred from "watching" the "watchers" ?


7 posted on 11/02/2004 11:23:22 AM PST by RockAgainsttheLeft04 ("America...F**K YEAH !" -Team America: World Police)
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04

Sorry about the double post...computer glitch, y'know?


8 posted on 11/02/2004 11:24:10 AM PST by RockAgainsttheLeft04 ("America...F**K YEAH !" -Team America: World Police)
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04
I've made this point on a few threads this morning, and in recent days....EVERYONE needs to have a camera handy today, even if it's just close by in the car.

I've voted smoothly, but was more than prepared to do the "follow that car" thing if I'd seen, for instance, an AFL-CIO van pull up to the polling place. I'd hve made damn sure that if the same crew visited another site, I'd have a nice little record of it.

9 posted on 11/02/2004 11:31:48 AM PST by ErnBatavia (Democrats: appear in September, leavin' November 3 - worse than a 1-night stand...)
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04

I'm sure that Alabama allows poll watchers from the parties. I can see why they won't allow anyone and everyone to "mill around" the polling place after voting. Could be used by the lefties to stage a mass sit in or other civil disobedience display of stupidity.


10 posted on 11/02/2004 11:37:08 AM PST by Yo-Yo (John Kerry: The wrong candidate in the wrong election at the wrong time)
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04

I'm the "Christian Citizenship Coordinator" (get-out-the-vote-guy) at our church. We were asked to be a new polling place, and I wanted to get a shot of the crowd in the gymnasium. I didn't know the rules, so I asked the Election Commission official in charge... She said "Sure!" (This is in Tennessee.)


11 posted on 11/02/2004 12:03:40 PM PST by HeadOn (Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.)
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To: RockAgainsttheLeft04
I was able to here in NE. There's a software company promoting 'get out the vote' and offering the latest version of their software for free if you send them a picture of you at the polls. The poll workers said it was ok with them.
12 posted on 11/02/2004 7:34:11 PM PST by yhwhsman ("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)
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