Ballot Selfies

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It has become somewhat of a trend these days for people to take pictures of their ballots and share them on social media. However, this is illegal in some states and countries.

In the United States, laws banning ballot selfies were implemented for the sake of preventing vote buying - that one might sell their vote and take the picture as proof so they can receive payment. In reality, vote buying is basically non-existant, and everyone who takes ballot selfies does it to make a statement, that they are proud of who they voted for.

There are constitutional challenges to ballot selfie bans arguing that ballot selfies are political speech and therefore protected by the First Amendment. New Hampshire's ban was overturned in court while Michigan's was upheld. It remains unclear whether these bans are constitutional or not.

In other countries like Germany, ballot selfies are banned on the basis of preserving the secrecy of the ballot. Some argue that this ban does not violate freedom of speech because one is still free to tell people who they voted for.

I believe that secrecy of one's vote is a right, not an obligation, and I believe ballot selfies are political speech and therefore the American bans are unconstitutional.

[Antityranicals]

I'd agree with that. Personally, though, I haven't got a problem with people selling their vote. It is, after all, theirs, and they ought be able to do what they wish with it.

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I'd agree with that. Personally, though, I haven't got a problem with people selling their vote. It is, after all, theirs, and they ought be able to do what they wish with it.

The problem with vote selling is that people will sacrifice a long term greater gain (their interests being upheld in legislation and administration) for the short term smaller gain of some quick cash. If Michael Bloomberg offered me $5000 to vote for him I might be tempted to vote for him but I would instead vote for Bernie Sanders for free, knowing that if I am living in America and get seriously sick or injured, I'll save far more than that in health care costs when Sanders implements single-payer.

But for someone who is desperate to keep their lights on, feed their kids, vote buying is coercive. They sacrifice their long term interests for money they need right away.

If vote buying were allowed, politicians would do even less to improve material conditions than they do now.

[Thermodolia]

I'd agree with that. Personally, though, I haven't got a problem with people selling their vote. It is, after all, theirs, and they ought be able to do what they wish with it.

The problem with vote selling is that people will sacrifice a long term greater gain (their interests being upheld in legislation and administration) for the short term smaller gain of some quick cash. If Michael Bloomberg offered me $5000 to vote for him I might be tempted to vote for him but I would instead vote for Bernie Sanders for free, knowing that if I am living in America and get seriously sick or injured, I'll save far more than that in health care costs when Sanders implements single-payer.

But for someone who is desperate to keep their lights on, feed their kids, vote buying is coercive. They sacrifice their long term interests for money they need right away.

If vote buying were allowed, politicians would do even less to improve material conditions than they do now.

I’d vote for Bloomberg on one condition, that he pay me 90% of his net worth. Other than that I’m voting for Sanders.

Also I think that banning ballot selfies is a good thing. Where I live cameras and phones aren’t allowed in the polling station to preserve the secrecy of the vote

[Chan Island]

Ballot selfies are a tangible proof of who you voted for, thus violating ballot secrecy, so bans should be implemented. They are different from just telling people who you voted for, because you could always lie about what you did in the booth.

The issue of vote buying could really become tangible in situations where ballot selfies were legal, and since vote buying is a corrupting influence on democracy, they should be curtailed just for that alone.

[The Emerald Legion]

I don't see why vote buying is a bad thing.

[Unstoppable Empire of Doom]

I don't see why vote buying is a bad thing.

Not a fan of history I take it?

[Esternial]

Wouldn't ever do it myself, but I don't necessarily have an issue with it.

As long as the people taking those selfies realize their voting behavior will be a lot easier to track if they just throw it up on the internet.

[The Emerald Legion]

I don't see why vote buying is a bad thing.

Not a fan of history I take it?

I mean. We already allow it in the abstract. As demonstrated by "Vote for me, I'll give you free shit via welfare programs." "Vote for me, I'll give you a tax cut."

Or would you say there is some fundemental difference between those things?

[The Sherpa Empire]

I can understand the thought process behind the bans, but I don't think it should be banned.

[Fartsniffage]

I'm all for a ban but that's mostly because I think selfies should be banned in general.

[Confederacy of Interstellar Republics]

Not a fan of history I take it?

I mean. We already allow it in the abstract. As demonstrated by "Vote for me, I'll give you free shit via welfare programs." "Vote for me, I'll give you a tax cut."

Or would you say there is some fundemental difference between those things?

It's at least less direct.

[Nuroblav]

This:

Wouldn't ever do it myself, but I don't necessarily have an issue with it.

As long as the people taking those selfies realize their voting behavior will be a lot easier to track if they just throw it up on the internet.

I'd never do it but I don't have a problem as such, but hopefully the people doing it realise.

I'm all for a ban but that's mostly because I think selfies should be banned in general.

Why?

[Fartsniffage]

Why?

They irritate me.

[Samudera Darussalam]

Well, though I believe that secrecy of the ballot is more important, ballot selfies are the freedom of the people who do so. It should be people's own conscience to choose which one they think is right.

[Cekoviu]

Selfies as a whole should be illegal.

[Pilipinas and Malaya]

Why?

They irritate me.

I agree that they’re irritating, but that’s a rather bad and very self-centric reason to ban selfies. Selfies aren’t going to go away like that.

On the matter of ballot selfies, I think it’s fine. Nothing really major from that

[Mushet]

How would you enforce it? Seems like the people that would be getting their vote bought can just send the picture instead of posting it on Facebook. What we're gonna confiscate electronic devices?

[Nobel Hobos 2]

You'll never know if votes are being bought, so you have to ban this and other ways of recording one's vote.

The most likely kind of vote buying imo, is within families. You'd never know.

[Thermodolia]

Why?

They irritate me.

I agree

Fart/Therm 2020: No more selfies! Now get off the lawn!!

[Red Roja]

Regardless, I think ballot selfies are stupid.

[Thermodolia]

How would you enforce it? Seems like the people that would be getting their vote bought can just send the picture instead of posting it on Facebook. What we're gonna confiscate electronic devices?

In my state cameras, phones, and other electronic devices are not allowed to be within 50ft of a polling place. You will be fined and the device will be confiscated

[Kowani]

Not a fan of history I take it?

I mean. We already allow it in the abstract. As demonstrated by "Vote for me, I'll give you free shit via welfare programs." "Vote for me, I'll give you a tax cut."

Or would you say there is some fundemental difference between those things?

Yes? If you can’t see the difference, that’s problematic.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

Pretty sure those are illegal. As they should be.

[Monkey Snake]

I mean. We already allow it in the abstract. As demonstrated by "Vote for me, I'll give you free shit via welfare programs." "Vote for me, I'll give you a tax cut."

Or would you say there is some fundamental difference between those things?

The problem is basically the same as when you start eating a bag of crisps in class and the teacher gives you a look, and if you don't put it away the teacher says "OK Emerald, did you bring enough for everybody?" and of course you didn't, and you're probably just sharing them with whoever it's advantageous to share with, but the government sure has enough crisps to go around. We reserve the right to debate whether equal opportunity payouts are just or not.