Althouse: "It's a felony to tweet photo of your ballot, Government Accountability Board says."

May 25, 2012

"It's a felony to tweet photo of your ballot, Government Accountability Board says."

In Wisconsin.

17 comments:

Tom Spaulding said...: On this day, the anniversary of "Anthony Weiner Day", I concur.; 5/25/12, 6:18 PM
edutcher said...: Especially if the name on said ballot is Hans Christian Heg.; 5/25/12, 6:30 PM
traditionalguy said...: The Shaken Ballot Syndrome?

What will the DA do if tens of thousands of young people tweet pics of their filled in ballots to the DA just to assert thir rebellion against stupid laws.; 5/25/12, 6:44 PM
Insufficiently Sensitive said...: Wasn't that Board the corrupt bunch who refused to check the 900,000 signatures on the Walker recall petitions? Talk about inviting vote fraud, them's the perps.; 5/25/12, 7:22 PM
KJE said...: As opposed to being, say, political speech?; 5/25/12, 7:32 PM
wef said...: This is BS. - If I were to go on for paragraphs telling someone about my ballot, if I were to draw a detailed picture of my ballot, if I were to describe in a loud voice what I was doing to my ballot......would all that be illegal?; 5/25/12, 7:33 PM
Fen said...: Intent is to prevent selling your vote, ie posting it to show proof.; 5/25/12, 7:38 PM
Revenant said...: t-guy,

It isn't a stupid law. It is there to make it impossible to prove to someone else how you voted.; 5/25/12, 7:45 PM
wef said...: And, by the way, what is so wrong about selling one's vote?

This middlebrow prudishness against prostitution is so 1950s.; 5/25/12, 7:46 PM
Mary Beth said...: How does that stop someone from providing proof how they voted? It seems to me that posting it online where people can see whether or not it is in line with your past opinions on politics is more likely to prove that you voted your conscience. If you wanted to sell a vote you could simply take a photo and send it only to the person who paid.; 5/25/12, 7:58 PM
Revenant said...: If you wanted to sell a vote you could simply take a photo and send it only to the person who paid.

That's illegal, too. You're just less likely to get caught doing it.; 5/25/12, 8:12 PM
wef said...: That's illegal, too. You're just less likely to get caught doing it

How about zero marginal increase in your probability of getting caught.

And on the general theme: Some vote to get remunerated in terms of psychic benefits of seeing your race advanced in positions of power. Some vote to get remunerated in terms of cheaper contraception. Some vote to get remunerated for producing moonshine in the form of ethanol. There are prostitutes everywhere.

Anyone against taking a photo of their ballot are as disgustingly prudish as those tight asses against pornography.

(But you might say that the ballot is being abused.); 5/25/12, 8:28 PM
traditionalguy said...: Rev...Is that honorable and intelligent statute forbidding free speech going to stop anything in the street money world on election day? If not, then violating the First amendment for no discernable public interest seems stupid.

I like the one where the liquor stores and bars have to close on election day. But the First Amendment stops just short of free drinks offered to the bum being political speech even if they toast the Ward Boss.; 5/25/12, 9:03 PM
Anonymous said...: @wef

I agree. The people should have the same rights as congress.; 5/26/12, 2:16 AM
John henry said...: In 2008 I took my granddaughter with me to the polls. She was 5 at the time.

I took a video of her marking the ballot for me. I wanted proof that my ballot had been cast for my wife's favored candidate. However, I could not vote for either candidate in good faith and would have left my ballot blank.

This way I satisfied both my wife and my conscience.

I had not idea this might be illegal in some states.

BTW: I had to show my uncounterfeitable Voter ID/Registration card to get a ballot to take into the booth.

ID is not a problem here where we get 70%+ of the population (not registered voters, population) voting.

John Henry; 5/26/12, 8:34 AM
ErnieG said...: Would that make it illegal to leave flowers and a photo of a ballot on a voter's grave as a simple gesture of gratitude?; 5/26/12, 9:14 AM
Rusty said...: wef said...
And, by the way, what is so wrong about selling one's vote?

Why. Nothing at all. I know, come election day, that the sturdy chaps that reside on Lower Whacker Drive are encouraged to the polls with monetary remuneration. So enthusiastic is their franchise that they often vote several times apiece. In wards all of the bustling metropolis.
makes one proud to live in the city of Chicago.; 5/26/12, 9:16 AM