Friday, May 25, 2012

Officials in Wisconsin unwittingly break law using Facebook

Wisconsin elections officials are reminding voters that posting photos of completed ballots on Facebook or Twitter is illegal -- but high-ranking members of both political parties apparently missed the memo.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate and St. Croix County Republican Party Chairwoman Jesse Garza said Friday they're removing their ballot photos after finding out the postings violated state law.

The law bars voters from showing their completed ballots to anyone. The intent is to prevent people from selling their votes and then showing their ballots as proof they voted as requested.

But state elections officials say they aren't aware of anyone ever being prosecuted for posting such photos online.

Voters are casting ballots ahead of Wisconsin's heated recall elections targeting Republican Gov. Scott Walker and several other elected Republicans.