Ohio’s ‘Ballot Selfie’ Ban Survives Constitutional Challenge

Ohio laws that bar voters from posting photos of their completed ballots online don’t violate the First Amendment, a federal judge said.

The statutes banning “ballot selfies” are sufficiently tailored to further compelling state interests, justifying the alleged infringement on free speech rights, Judge David A. Ruiz of the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio said Wednesday. Ruiz granted the summary judgment motions offered by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) and the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

The laws aren’t a content-based restriction on speech because they’re “justified without reference to their content and ...