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Politics

California Senate Votes To End Ban On Ballot Selfies

The rising sun casts shadows of voters waiting to vote at a polling place in Los Angeles, Nov. 4, 2008.
Associated Press
The rising sun casts shadows of voters waiting to vote at a polling place in Los Angeles, Nov. 4, 2008.

The California Legislature wants voters to be allowed to post photos of their marked ballots on social media.

The Senate voted 31-8 on Monday to repeal a rarely enforced law that makes it illegal to post a photo that shows how someone has voted.

Supporters say the bill would legalize something many voters do already to express their enthusiasm for voting or for particular candidates. Posting ballot selfies has become increasing popular with the proliferation of social media.

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Critics say it would violate the principle of a secret ballot, which protects voters from coercion.

AB1494 by Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine of San Rafael returns to the Assembly, which approved it overwhelmingly earlier this year but must agree to changes made in the Senate.

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