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Posted: 4:31 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012

Tulsa's Election Headquarters

The law on taking photos at a polling place

Line at polling place in Tulsa, Nov. 6, 2012
Courtesy: Randy Heller
Line at polling place in Tulsa, Nov. 6, 2012

By Russell Mills

TULSA, Okla. —

On a busy election day with long lines and waiting times, many people have whipped out their phones and taken pictures of the line, prompting some people to wonder if photography inside an election enclosure is legal.

There is no law in Oklahoma preventing such activity, provided the picture doesn't disclose how you or anyone else voted.

The law mandates that "No person shall, within the election enclosure, disclose to any other person how he voted; nor shall any person expose his ballot to any other person."

Even members of the media can enter a polling place, for a brief period of time.

According to state ordinance, "a news reporter or photographer may, in the course of covering the election being conducted, be allowed inside the election enclosure for a period not to exceed five (5) minutes. Such reporter or photographer shall not interfere with voters or election officials and shall neither observe any individual voter while the voter marks a ballot nor photograph any voter who is marking a ballot."

What is not allowed is any "electioneering" within 300 feet of a polling place.

That means no pamphlets, t-shirts, political speech, signs or trying to influence someone's vote.

 
 
 

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