{"id":10357,"date":"2015-11-10T02:59:42","date_gmt":"2015-11-10T09:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/politicalhat.com\/?p=10357"},"modified":"2015-11-10T02:59:42","modified_gmt":"2015-11-10T09:59:42","slug":"privacy-of-the-vote-a-bulwark-protecting-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/impeachreno.org\/politicalhat\/2015\/11\/10\/privacy-of-the-vote-a-bulwark-protecting-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Privacy of the Vote: A Bulwark Protecting Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

     The introduction of the private casting of ballots served to protect the voter against any and all who would apply pressure on the voter to vote a certain way… or else.<\/p>\n

     The prohibition on photographing one’s ballot before casting was intended to ensure that no one<\/em> could force you to provide proof that you voted a certain way in order to receive some benefit or avoid some punishment.<\/p>\n

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     Sadly, in this “selfie” obsessed degraded electorate, the “right” to be put into a position where you can be forced or cajoled<\/a> into voting a certain way trumps any and all attempts to have fair and honest elections:<\/p>\n

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“It is against the law to take a selfie with your freshly cast ballot in the voting booth on election day, but one California assemblyman is trying to change that.<\/p>\n

“Marc Levine, of California’s 10th Assembly district representing Marin and Sonoma counties, announced on Monday his intent to propose legislation to legalize “ballot selfies.'”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

     This means nothing less than the empowerment of those already in positions of authority to demand proof that the voter voted as they were told to do.\u00a0 That enforced privacy was their only protection.<\/p>\n

     Some judges, though, see this as matter of the 1st<\/sup> Amendment:<\/p>\n

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“In Indiana, fines for ballot selfies reached $10,000, until a judge barred authorities from enforcing the law against it, citing freedom of speech. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker wrote:<\/p>\n

“‘Over the course of the eighty-seven years that have passed since he sounded this warning, neither the truth nor the importance of his observation has waned. If anything, they have increased and expanded and, as is apparent from the issues before us in this litigation, assumed a new urgency.'”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Here's my #BallotSelfie<\/a> because it's legal in Indiana right now! #ElectionDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZBgd1ItVmg<\/a><\/p>\n

— Joe Tamborello (@joetamborello) November 3, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n