Are ballot selfies allowed in Idaho? Here’s the policy for posting pictures of voting
Editor’s note: This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.
People take and post photos of themselves doing all kinds of things. But what about voting? Ballot selfies are allowed in Idaho, however they are discouraged to protect voters’ right to a secret ballot.
Secret ballots ensure nobody can see what others vote for in November, and protect against fraud or intimidation during an election. At least 14 states enacted legislation against ballot selfies during the 2020 election, according to a report from VOX.
Nicole Camarda, a spokesperson for Ada County, said that by taking photos of a ballot and posting it online constituents are giving up their right to a secret ballot.
“There’s no rule that prohibits you from taking a photo with your ballot or a selfie, however we do discourage it because everyone has a constitutional right to a secret ballot. If they take a photo with their ballot and then post it online, then they’re forfeiting that right for their own, private ballot,” Camarda said.
She also said taking and posting photos inside polling places is allowed. The main concern, she said, is someone disrupting the voting process for others. If someone does decide to post a photo with their ballot, they must ensure that they only capture their ballot in the picture.
Idaho voters can pre-register to vote online by Oct. 11, or register to vote in-person by election day on Nov. 5. Voters can also request an absentee ballot by Oct. 25, or take advantage of early voting.
This story was originally published September 14, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
