AP16:147
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2016
CONTACT:
Jesse Melgar or Sam Mahood
(916) 653-6575
Secretary of State Padilla Statement on Ballot Selfie Lawsuit
SACRAMENTO – California Secretary of State Alex Padilla has issued the following statement:
“Across the country, “ballot selfies” posted on social media have become a new form of political expression used to showcase one’s civic pride and participation. Citing the First Amendment violations, the ACLU filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking to reverse the state’s 125-year-old ban barring voters from showing anyone their marked ballots. I agree that this outdated law needs reform. That’s why I supported AB 1494 – passed this year by the legislature and signed into law by the governor – allowing voters to take ballot selfies starting January 1, 2017.”
“While sympathetic to efforts to accelerate the use of this new form of political expression for the November 2016 election, state law currently prohibits it and only a court of law can authorize such a change, especially one proposed on the eve of the election. In the meantime, voters can still take a selfie of their ‘I Voted’ sticker.”
“My office stands ready to comply with any decision handed down by the court on this matter.”
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