Ballot Selfies A Step Closer To Legalization In California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California lawmakers have passed a bill to repeal a 125-year-old law barring voters from showing people their marked ballots, though it would take effect after the November election.

AB1494 would allow California voters to waive their right to a secret ballot and share polling-booth selfies or other photos of their ballots.

The Assembly voted 57-11 Monday to send the proposal to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown. It would take effect Jan. 1.

Legislative analysts say state law has prohibited revealing ballots since 1891. The bill's author, Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine of San Rafael, says the law is rarely enforced.

Federal courts in New Hampshire and Indiana last year threw out laws in those states that prohibited photos of marked ballots, saying they violated free speech rights.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.