Are ballot selfies allowed in California? Know your voting rights

NOVEMBER ELECTION AND SO FAR POLITICAL DATA INC. IS REPORTING 28% OF BALLOTS THAT WERE SENT OUT HAVE BEEN RETURNED STATEWIDE. THAT’S MORE THAN 6 MILLION. AND WHILE THERE’S A BIG FOCUS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LOCAL RACES AS WELL AS STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES THAT VOTERS WILL DECIDE. AND THIS MORNING, WE WELCOME THE WOMAN OVERSEEING THE ELECTION PROCESS IN CALIFORNIA, DOCTOR SHIRLEY WEBER. DOCTOR WEBER, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANKS FOR JOINING US. IT’S MY PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE THING, THOUGH, THAT YOU WANT TO DISPEL? THIS MORNING? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT ELECTION IS TAKING PLACE, THAT IT’S SAFE AND SECURE AND THAT YOU’LL BE FINE IF YOU GO IN EITHER YOU CAN DO IT BY WALKING INTO THE POLLING PLACE AND VOTING, OR BY TURNING YOUR BALLOT IN AT A BALLOT BOX OR DROPPING IT IN THE MAIL. SO YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL. ANY GLITCHES THAT ARE THERE ARE BEING HANDLED AND THAT YOU WILL BE SAFE AND SECURE IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS. OF COURSE, WE HAVE SEEN, UNFORTUNATELY, BALLOT BOXES, BALLOT VOTE CENTERS BEING BURNED IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON STATE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THE PROCESS IN CALIFORNIA? RIGHT NOW? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON’T REALLY HAVE THOSE KIND OF CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE ON THE NEWS BECAUSE WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CAMERAS THAT WE HAVE BALLOT BOXES AND SAFE PLACES THAT THEY’RE REALLY STURDY BOXES. SO WE DON’T HAVE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. WHAT WE SEE SOMETIMES IS MIS AND DISINFORMATION THAT PEOPLE PUT OUT THE WRONG INFORMATION. THEY SEE SOMETHING AND THEY INTERPRET IT INCORRECTLY, AND THEN SPREAD IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND HOW WE WHAT WE’VE DONE, HOWEVER, IS THAT IF YOU HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR HOTLINE, GET ON OUR WEBSITE S O ESCALON.GOV. OR CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND WE WILL GET YOU THE CORRECT INFORMATION. AND THEN WE’LL POST IT FOR THOSE IN THE CITY WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON. AND SPEAKING OF THAT MISINFORMATION, WHAT ARE SOME DOS AND DON’TS? WHAT ARE THE BIG ONES FOR PEOPLE AT THE BALLOT BOXES WHEN THEY GO TO VOTE? SPECIFICALLY SELFIES LIKE, CAN I TAKE A SELFIE WHEN I GO TO CAST MY BALLOT? WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TAKE A SELFIE OF YOURSELF IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU COME OUT. YES. YOU’RE NOT TAKING PICTURES OF EVERYBODY ELSE. AND WE OFTEN HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ONCE THEY VOTED, STAND IN FRONT OF IT AND SAY, I VOTED AND SEND IT OUT TO THEIR FRIENDS SO THEY CAN DO THAT. THEY CAN’T BEGIN TO TAKE PICTURES OF OF THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF ALL OF OUR MACHINES OR VOTING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT THEY THEY CAN THEY CAN CELEBRATE. AND A LOT OF FOLKS WILL DO THEIR OF WHERE’S MY BALLOT CELEBRATION? THEY WILL BASICALLY TWEET OUT WHATEVER WE’VE SENT THEM. WITH REGARDS TO THAT, WE HAVE THEIR BALLOT AND IT’S TAKING AND IT’S TAKING PLACE. SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF CELEBRATIONS WE WELCOME. BUT NOT NECESSARILY TAKING PICTURES OF EVERYBODY ELSE. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER BIG NO NO’S? WHEN PEOPLE GO TO CAST THEIR VOTE. WELL NO, NO DON’T WEAR YOUR YOUR FAVORITE T SHIRT THAT CELEBRATES YOUR CANDIDATE OR YOUR HAT THAT CELEBRATES YOUR CANDIDATE. WE’VE HAD PEOPLE WANTING TO DO THAT. AND THAT REALLY IS CAN BE A FORM OF INTIMIDATION. SO WE ASK THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT, THAT YOU LEAVE IT IN THE CAR, THAT YOU DON’T BRING IT OUT. AND THOSE THINGS SEEM MINOR IN SOME WAYS, BUT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE FEEL VERY INTIMIDATED WHEN THEY SEE THAT SOMEONE IS VOTING DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY DO, AND THEY’RE MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. SO THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST DON’T DO THAT, TAKE YOUR BALLOT WITH YOU, TAKE THE MATERIAL NEED TO INFORM YOU ABOUT HOW YOU’RE GOING TO VOTE, BUT DON’T WEAR ANY SIGNS. DON’T TRY TO CAMPAIGN IN WAYS THAT YOU HADN’T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE EASY THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO WITHOUT EVEN THINKING ABOUT. AND DOCTOR WEBBER, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO IF THEY DO HAVE A CONCERN, WHETHER IT BE ON ELECTION DAY OR EVEN BEFORE ELECTION DAY? AND THEY WANT TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THERE’S SOMETHING HAPPENING AT A LOCATION, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO AND WHO SHOULD THEY CONTACT? THEY SHOULD CONTACT MY OFFICE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S O S DOT CA.GOV IMMEDIATELY WILL RESPOND RIGHT AWAY. THEY CAN CONTACT OUR HOTLINE, WHICH IS 800 345. VOTE. THEY CAN CONTACT THAT HOTLINE. AND THERE WE HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS DOING THAT. WE WE YESTERDAY I THINK HAVE HAD OVER 2000 VOTE HOTLINE CALLS THAT COME IN AND WE RESPOND TO ALL OF THEM. YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT YOUR REGISTRAR VOTER AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WHAT’S TAKING PLACE, THE FASTER YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH US, THE QUICKER WE CAN RESPOND AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS SAFE. DOCTOR WEBBER, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. YOU AND I WERE TALKING IN THE COMMERCIAL BREAK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY BUSY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, SO WE DO THANK YOU FOR TAKING A FEW MOMENTS TO TALK TO US. IT’S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND

Yes, ballot selfies are allowed in California. Here are more election dos and don’ts

Updated: 1:40 PM PDT Nov 1, 2024

If you want to celebrate your vote with a ballot “selfie” at the polls on Election Day, you can do so. But there are some rules you still need to follow.There are also limits on the type of clothing you can wear to comply with laws against electioneering. The rules apply to anyone within the immediate vicinity of someone in line to cast their ballot or within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place or ballot drop box. Below is what you need to know about the dos and don’ts of voting. What to know about ballot selfies in California Ballot selfie laws vary across the United States. In California, ballot selfies didn’t become legal until 2017. The state previously had a 125-year-old ban that prevented voters from showing anyone their marked ballots. Assembly Bill 1494 changed the rules. The law now says: “A voter may voluntarily disclose how he or she voted if that voluntary act does not violate any other law.”“We often have people, who once they’ve voted, they want to stand in front of it and say, ‘I’ve voted’ and send it out to their friends,” California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber told KCRA 3. “So they can do that. They can’t begin to take pictures of the process in terms of all of our machines, or voting, those kinds of things, but they can celebrate.”See more guidance from the state to county registrars here.What to know about restrictions on clothing or pins featuring candidates or political positionsYou’re not allowed to distribute, wear or show clothing like hats, shirts, buttons or stickers that display a candidate’s name, image, logo or information about supporting or opposing a ballot measure. “Don’t wear your favorite T-shirt that celebrates your candidate, or your hat,” Weber said. “That can really be a form of intimidation. So we ask that if you have any of that, that you leave it in the car, that you don’t bring it out. Those things can feel minor but oftentimes people can feel really intimidated when they see that someone is voting differently than they do and they’re much more concerned about it.”More “dont’s” to know if you’re within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place or ballot drop box siteIt goes without saying that you shouldn’t try to commit election fraud. Here are more don’ts:Don’t ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.Don’t block access to a ballot drop box or loiter nearby.Don’t circulate any petitions.Don’t display information or speak to a voter about their eligibility to vote.Don’t photograph or record a person trying to enter or exit a polling place. (Certain uses of cameras are permitted like with credentialed media organizations filming a candidate voting.)Don’t challenge someone’s right to vote.| MORE | See the full list of electioneering restrictions here. Voting “dos.” These are your rights as a California voterThe secretary of state’s website has a full list of your rights as a voter. Among those rights: You have the right to vote if you are a registered voter, even if your name is not on the list.You have the right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close.You have the right to cast a secret ballot.You have the right to get a new ballot if you made a mistake and have not already cast your ballot.You have the right to get help casting your ballot from someone you choose, except if that person is your employer or a union representative.You have the right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California.You have the right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your precinct speak that language.You have the right to ask election officials about their procedures.You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s Office.How to get answers to your questions about voting or report an issueVoters can call a state election hotline to report an issue at a voting location. Here is information on those hotlines in different languages. 800-345-VOTE (8683) – English800-232-VOTA (8682) – español / Spanish800-339-2857 – 中文 / Chinese888-345-2692 – हिन्दी / Hindi800-339-2865 – 日本語 / Japanese888-345-4917 – ខ្មែរ / Khmer866-575-1558 – 한국어 / Korean800-339-2957 – Tagalog855-345-3933 – ภาษาไทย / Thai800-339-8163 – Việt ngữ / VietnameseFor more information about the November election, including key issues and other races on the ballot, check out the KCRA 3 Voter Guide.Find more political news from our national team here.

If you want to celebrate your vote with a ballot “selfie” at the polls on Election Day, you can do so. But there are some rules you still need to follow.

There are also limits on the type of clothing you can wear to comply with laws against electioneering. The rules apply to anyone within the immediate vicinity of someone in line to cast their ballot or within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place or ballot drop box.

Below is what you need to know about the dos and don’ts of voting.

What to know about ballot selfies in California

Ballot selfie laws vary across the United States. In California, ballot selfies didn’t become legal until 2017. The state previously had a 125-year-old ban that prevented voters from showing anyone their marked ballots.

Assembly Bill 1494 changed the rules. The law now says: “A voter may voluntarily disclose how he or she voted if that voluntary act does not violate any other law.”

“We often have people, who once they’ve voted, they want to stand in front of it and say, ‘I’ve voted’ and send it out to their friends,” California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber told KCRA 3. “So they can do that. They can’t begin to take pictures of the process in terms of all of our machines, or voting, those kinds of things, but they can celebrate.”

What to know about restrictions on clothing or pins featuring candidates or political positions

You’re not allowed to distribute, wear or show clothing like hats, shirts, buttons or stickers that display a candidate’s name, image, logo or information about supporting or opposing a ballot measure.

“Don’t wear your favorite T-shirt that celebrates your candidate, or your hat,” Weber said. “That can really be a form of intimidation. So we ask that if you have any of that, that you leave it in the car, that you don’t bring it out. Those things can feel minor but oftentimes people can feel really intimidated when they see that someone is voting differently than they do and they’re much more concerned about it.”

More “dont’s” to know if you’re within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place or ballot drop box site

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t try to commit election fraud. Here are more don’ts:

• Don’t ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.
• Don’t block access to a ballot drop box or loiter nearby.
• Don’t circulate any petitions.
• Don’t display information or speak to a voter about their eligibility to vote.
• Don’t photograph or record a person trying to enter or exit a polling place. (Certain uses of cameras are permitted like with credentialed media organizations filming a candidate voting.)
• Don’t challenge someone’s right to vote.

| MORE | See the full list of electioneering restrictions here.

Voting “dos.” These are your rights as a California voter

The secretary of state’s website has a full list of your rights as a voter. Among those rights:

• You have the right to vote if you are a registered voter, even if your name is not on the list.
• You have the right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close.
• You have the right to cast a secret ballot.
• You have the right to get a new ballot if you made a mistake and have not already cast your ballot.
• You have the right to get help casting your ballot from someone you choose, except if that person is your employer or a union representative.
• You have the right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California.
• You have the right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your precinct speak that language.
• You have the right to ask election officials about their procedures.
• You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s Office.

How to get answers to your questions about voting or report an issue

Voters can call a state election hotline to report an issue at a voting location. Here is information on those hotlines in different languages.

• 800-345-VOTE (8683) – English
• 800-232-VOTA (8682) – español / Spanish
• 800-339-2857 – 中文 / Chinese
• 888-345-2692 – हिन्दी / Hindi
• 800-339-2865 – 日本語 / Japanese
• 888-345-4917 – ខ្មែរ / Khmer
• 866-575-1558 – 한국어 / Korean
• 800-339-2957 – Tagalog
• 855-345-3933 – ภาษาไทย / Thai
• 800-339-8163 – Việt ngữ / Vietnamese

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For more information about the November election, including key issues and other races on the ballot, check out the KCRA 3 Voter Guide.

Find more political news from our national team here.