Sorry, no ‘selfies’ allowed
According to voting rules, camera equipment is not allowed in the voting booth.
THE Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed that taking photos in the voting booths on May 7 will not be allowed and those who take ‘selfies’ may have their phones confiscated until they have cast their vote.
According to voting rules, camera equipment is not allowed in the voting booth. Thabani Ngwira, provincial communications officer for the IEC said this is because ‘selfies’ taken in the voting booth could threaten the principle of the secret ballot.
“You cannot affect the confidentiality of the voting process by taking pictures of other people, but if you want to take a photo of yourself, you can do so outside the voting station,” said Mr Ngwira.
“As long as people’s right to cast a vote in secret is respected and voting procedures are not disturbed, there’s no problem,” he added.
Polling booth ‘selfies’ are popular around the world. And while some US states forbid polling booth ‘selfies’, some allow it, but it is expressly forbidden in South Africa and the Philippines.
