Judge refuses to block New York 'ballot selfie' law [View all]
Source: Reuters
U.S. | Thu Nov 3, 2016 | 5:26pm ED
Judge refuses to block New York 'ballot selfie' law
By Jonathan Stempel | NEW YORK
A federal judge on Thursday refused to block enforcement of a New York state law barring voters from taking photographs of their marked ballots so that they could post them on social media websites.
U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan said it would "wreak havoc on election-day logistics" to issue a preliminary injunction against the law, which prohibits the display of "ballot selfies."
Under the law, which dates from the 19th century, it is a misdemeanor for voters to share the contents of completed ballots. Violators could face up to one year in prison.
Three voters sued on Oct. 26 to block enforcement of the law, saying that sharing ballot selfies was a form of speech protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.
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