Legality of photographing at polling places?

[Frank Petronio]

In the USA, today actually. Is there any issue with me photographing my voting experience? The lines of people, the volunteers?

I know engineers and dentists aren't lawyers or cops but....

[Peter Mounier]

The answer is ... there's no clear answer.

http://citmedia.org/blog/2006/11/06/...e-photography/

Peter

[Sal Santamaura]

...I know engineers and dentists aren't lawyers or cops but....

There are a number of lawyers among the membership here (I'm not one of them). Just remember how much you're paying for their legal advice.

[BrianShaw]

I hope the answer doesn't depend on if you ask a Democrat or Republican lawyer.

[Frank Petronio]

Just heard from my photojournalistic friend who says no problem except practical ones - individuals will give you gruff and be misinformed.

[Leigh]

There are a number of lawyers among the membership here (I'm not one of them). Just remember how much you're paying for their legal advice.

And it's worth every penny, as always. How many lawyers give a money-back guarantee?

- Leigh

[IanG]

You might want to look at the work of Simon Roberts a UK photojournalist/artist who shoots LF. He covered the last UK General Election. I met him last year when I went to see two of his exhibitions with a talk afterwards, bvery approachable and a great guy, excellent work as well.

Ian

[Frank Petronio]

I seem to have gotten away with it, although I was questioned towards the end by a volunteer who told me I wasn't allowed to photograph but since it was my own camera (? logic in action!) it was OK. Pretty funny but I told her that I looked it up (I sort of did) and that it was OK and I didn't want to bother anyone, just document my process. Perhaps if I photographed others it would be more problematic but gee, I was shy. And it was not that visually interesting.

I won't talk politics here ;-p

[Bob Salomon]

Lots of pictures of people voting in today's papers. Even saw one of an Assistant Fire Chief in NJ actually filling out his ballot in one paper.

[IanG]

Lots of pictures of people voting in today's papers. Even saw one of an Assistant Fire Chief in NJ actually filling out his ballot in one paper.

I guess as an individual you can waive you're right to anonimity, the US must be similar to the UK in the right to a secret ballot, but if you don't want to keep it secret then that's fair game and most probably is with the agreement of the officials at the polling/voting station.

Ian