With Election Day less than a week away, the State Board of Elections is reminding journalists and the public of guidelines for filming at polling locations:
- Precincts designate a “buffer zone” near the entrance of a polling location. Boards of elections do not regulate activity outside the buffer zone. Limitation on activity in the voting place and in a buffer zone around it (N.C.G.S. § 163-166.4).
- If members of the media wish to enter the buffer zone briefly, they must get permission from the chief judge at that precinct. The chief judge may allow the media to photograph or record video inside the voting enclosure, with consent of the voters. The media may not interview voters within the voting enclosure.
- No voter may be photographed or videoed marking their ballot. It is a violation of law to photograph or video a marked ballot.
- If you are photographing or videoing a candidate in the voting enclosure, only the permission of the candidate is required (not the chief judge). Limited access to the voting enclosure (N.C.G.S. § 163-166.3(b),(c)).
Election day is 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 15. A separate primary for U.S. House of Representatives is planned for June 7, 2016. There are nearly 6.5 million registered voters in North Carolina, with 2,709 polling places across the state.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections is the state agency charged with overall responsibility for administration of the elections process and campaign finance disclosure in North Carolina. The office of the State Board of Elections works in conjunction with County Board of Elections offices to ensure that elections are conducted lawfully and fairly.
For additional information visit North Carolina State Board of Elections website at ncsbe.gov.