Canada PoliticsElections Nova Scotia investigating three individuals for taking photos of completed ballots
They're calling it ballot-gate.
As explained by the Chronicle Herald, Elections Nova Scotia is investigating at least three individuals for publishing pictures of their completed provincial election ballots on social media.
Two of the people are well known in political circles. Consultant and former journalist Parker Donham used his Twitter handle @kempthead to share a photo of his vote for the Progressive Conservatives. Trade unionist Tony Tracy’s tweet @tony_tracy shared his NDP vote.
The source of the third pictured ballot from advance polls has yet to be determined, Dana Doiron, Elections Nova Scotia spokesman, said Sunday.
Doiron said the RCMP are handling the investigation, which started after Elections Nova Scotia staff caught wind of the tweets over the weekend.
Donham contested the investigation on Twitter, on Saturday.
@kempthead please be advised that your action is being referred to the RCMP for investigation
— ElectionsNovaScotia (@electionsns) October 5, 2013
The obvious rationale behind the rules is to combat the potential of vote buying or coerced votes: imagine an individual buying a vote and asking the elector to validate the vote with a picture of his or her ballot.
[ Related: Nova Scotia Liberals re-tweet picture of Darrell Dexter likened to fictional serial killer ]
On Twitter, Donham seemed to quibble with the definition of a "recording device."
@electionsns I assume ur referring to Sec. 94(4). Don't believe I violated it. I didn't "use a recording or communication device" — Parker Donham (@kempthead) October 5, 2013
He also blogged about the incident, essentially saying that Elections Nova Scotia should be focusing on other things.
"I gave no thought to violating the NS Election Act, let alone testing it. My only thought was to come up with an effective way to make a political statement to my fellow electors in Victoria-The Lakes," Donham wrote.
"Elections Nova Scotia’s response is quite possibly wrong in law, and to my ear, disproportionate in tone. I would have thought the agency had more important matters to tend to three days before an election."
[ More Political Points: TransCanada Corp. uses Middle East unrest to promote Keystone XL pipeline ]
If found in contravention of the act, Donham and the others could face a maximum penalty of $5,000.
What do you think? Is Elections Nova Scotia out of line? Is a camera a recording device?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
(Photo courtesy of Parker Donham's Twitter account)
Are you a politics junkie?
Follow @politicalpoints on Twitter!
