Tag: politics

copperbadge:

sleepyheathen:

xkcds:

There were actually some good reasons for those laws, but IMO they now do more harm than good. Which raises a question: If there’s a ballot measure to strike them down, how can I resist the urge to take a picture of my “yes” vote?

Ballot Selfies [Explained]

From Wikipedia:

Most state laws making it a crime to photograph marked ballots were enacted as reform efforts in the early 20th century, as part of a broader campaign that saw the introduction of the secret ballot and the enactment of “other laws intended to prevent voter corruption and intimidation.”[19] Many such laws remain in force even though “the outright buying of votes has receded as a significant issue.”[19]

Jurisdictions that currently prohibit ballot selfies are: 

  • Alabama 
  • Alaska
  • Colorado 
  • Florida
  • Georgia 
  • Illinois
  • Kansas
  • Massachusetts 
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi 
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico 
  • New York
  • North Carolina 
  • South Carolina 
  • South Dakota
  • Wisconsin 

Illinois’s laws are the strictest of all. While most states with anti-ballot selfie laws make the offense a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, in Illinois, taking a ballot selfie is a felony punishable by 1–3 years in prison.[25][26]

Jurisdictions that currently allow ballot selfies or do not enforce laws against them are: 

  • Connecticut
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wyoming
  • the District of Columbia.

[25][26]

Jurisdictions where the law is currently unclear are: 

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Iowa
  • Maryland
  • Missouri
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • West Virginia.

[25][26]

Well, today I learned a thing….

kawuli:

seldnei:

Okay, look, I know it seems kinda scary because Election Day IS ALMOST HERE and EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED, and now we get all the analysis of early voters and all that razzmatazz. Here are my thoughts so far:

1. Fuck the media. Like, seriously, I read WaPo and the Times and I like my mainstream news, but, still, fuck them. They’re after clicks and readers just like the rest of the internet. Ignore the news; go vote.

2. Ya know, they talked about early voting being in favor of the Democrats in 2016, and look how well that worked out. Seriously, fuck that. Just vote.

3. The GOP only has a 1 in 7 chance of taking the House? Yeah, Trump had a 1 in 4 chance of winning the presidency and he managed that shit, so don’t get complacent, go vote.

4. The Dems only have a 1 in 7 chance of taking the Senate? Yeah, Trump had a 1 in 4 chance of winning the presidency and he managed that shit, so don’t lose hope, go vote.

FUCK THE POLLS, FUCK THE MEDIA. JUST GO FUCKING VOTE.

Seriously, unless you are some kind of political operative, polls and early voting stats and all that shit? Is not something you need to care about. Vote. Get your friends and family to vote. And ignore the nonsense.