Can you take a selfie at Sedgwick County polling places? See what is & isn’t allowed
In the age of social media, election seasons are becoming more and more heavily documented by not only news outlets, but by normal voters excited to participate.
But when it comes to taking selfies at the polls, a photo with your “I voted” sticker after the fact is all that poll workers will allow you to do in Sedgwick County.
While there are no laws regarding taking a selfie with your ballot, as the Kansas secretary of state’s office confirmed with The Eagle, Sedgwick County does not allow ballot selfies taken at the polling sites.
Not allowing photos is common. According to the secretary of state, taking photos at polling places is generally discouraged around the state, and any election judge can prohibit it if there are any concerns regarding voter privacy.
But you can use your phone in the polls for another reason.
“People have their phones out because sometimes they have notes on who they’re going to vote for, and that is allowed,” said Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater. “That is absolutely permissible.”
What else should I know before I cast my ballot in-person?
In addition to the selfie-taking rules, be aware of what you’re wearing to cast your vote.
“You can’t wear any merchandise that identifies a candidate, and that would be by name or by slogan. That’s been the biggest challenge,” Rainwater said.
That’s because wearing merchandise that endorses a candidate is considered electioneering, or illegally trying to influence voters.
Rainwater said that people will usually be asked to cover whatever outfit they have on, like flipping a shirt inside out or putting a hat in their bag.
According to Kansas law, electioneering “includes wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election or clearly indicate support or opposition to a question submitted election within any polling place on election day or advance voting site.”
More often than not, Rainwater said that voters just aren’t aware of the rules regarding electioneering.
“I saw a lady with a Make America Great Again hat right at the door, and I said, ‘Ma’am, I’m gonna have to ask you to remove your hat.’ And she didn’t know she couldn’t wear it, so she took it off and put it under her arm,” Rainwater said. “Most people comply.”
How to cast your vote early in Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County has seen a record number of early voters cast their votes this past week, which has also been the first week of early voting this election. So if the early voting numbers reflect what polling places will be like Nov. 5, you can expect lots of lines.
That’s why Rainwater recommends those who can to vote early.
Early voting started last week at the Sedgwick County Election Office, Sedgwick County Extension Center and Reformation Lutheran Church.
Seventeen more voting locations will open Tuesday, Oct. 29.
“When I see people standing in line when I’ve been out at the polling site the last three, four days, I say, ‘Hey guys, you know, we got 17 more sites opening up on Tuesday.’ ... Which I think will help a lot,” Rainwater said.
Those additional sites are:
- Bel Aire City Building (7651 E. Central Park, Bel Aire)
- Eastminster Presbyterian Church (1958 N. Webb Road)
- Evangel Presbyterian Church (1545 S. 135th St. West)
- Goddard District Conference Center (315 S. Main, Goddard)
- Grace Presbyterian Church (5002 E. Douglas)
- Haysville Community Library (210 Hays, Haysville)
- Machinists Building (3830 S. Meridian)
- Mount Vernon Methodist Church (5701 E. Mount Vernon)
- Northside Church of Christ (4545 N. Meridian)
- Park City City Hall (1941 E. 61st St. North, Park City)
- Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (2727 E. 25th St. North)
- St Andrew’s Lutheran (2555 Hyacinth Lane)
- Urban League (2418 E. Ninth St.)
- Valley Center Community Center (314 E. Clay, Valley Center)
- Westlink Church of Christ (10025 W. Central)
- Woodland Lakes Community Church (770 S. Greenwich)
- Woodlawn United Methodist Church (431 S. Woodlawn, Derby)
Those satellite locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
This story was originally published October 28, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
