A new policy has been put into place by the North Carolina Board of Elections that prohibits film crews from filming election proceedings unless everyone, both election officials and voters, give their permission.

It is likely that this policy was put in place following an incident involving several students working for Elon Student Television who were filming at a high school in Graham last year during the 2006 midterm elections.

There were several mistakes made on both sides, such as the filming of a finished ballot and the election official’s reluctance to be proactive in setting limits for the film crew. A person waiting to vote felt uncomfortable being filmed in line. This person filed a complaint, and subsequent legal action was taken against the station.

Though nothing came of this action, it creates several important questions. What is the purpose of this ordinance? Who does it protect? Should the North Carolina Election Board have the authority to bar any news organization from filming a public event on public property? Why should we care?

First, the policy is meant to protect the citizens of North Carolina from the invading eye of television journalism. Why is television believed to be so dangerous? All news agencies operate under a stringent code of ethical conduct. There is no argument for a violation of privacy, as elections are a public event and a high school is a public venue. As long as the filming does not invade the voters right to ballot anonymity, there should be no limit on the press’ ability to film a polling station. The revised statute allows for no more than flash photography or a single video sweep.

The North Carolina Board of Elections should not have the authority to bar any news organization from filming a public event on public property, within reason. There is no possible harm that can be perpetrated by a student organization filming voters standing in line.

The 2006 midterm elections were both newsworthy and of importance to viewers in the area, which include Elon students.

To film a local polling station is substantive and relevant to such a story. There is neither an invasion of privacy, nor slanderous reporting, so it needs to be asked what the defense is for prohibiting the filming of elections without prior consent from those at the polling station, and then hamstringing their available options.

Forcing film crews to obtain prior consent from those who are present at a polling station represents an unnecessary impediment to reporting. While it is in both good taste and conduct to obtain such permission, it should not be required at a public event.

The primary responsibility of an election board is to protect the integrity of the ballot and to assist voters in choosing their candidates as anonymously as possible. As long as the film crew does not violate this anonymity, there shouldn’t be an issue.

Finally, why should we care? The simple fact is that keeping polling stations as transparent as possible guards our freedoms. If our elections are to remain free and fair, we cannot allow our polling stations to bar film crews from public locations. The press is a check not only against electoral misconduct, but the mere hint of impropriety. By showing the people the election, it reassures them that there is no misconduct present. It protects voters from abuse by the system meant to ensure their representation. We know that everything is properly carried out because we can see it.

Our system of government operates upon the precondition that humans are fallible. Even the Founding Fathers believed that their vision could not be so perfect as to not be improved upon by subsequent generations.We have checks and balances in place in the government to ensure that no branch of the federal government oversteps its boundaries. We hope that these events do not occur, but our checks and balances exist in the potentiality that they do occur.

Therefore, does it not follow logically that by allowing film crews to film polling stations, within limits, without unnecessary impediments, would protect the voters from the potential violations of their rights?

While it is true that the current policy does not outright bar film crews from filming polling stations, it does present the potential for misconduct by election officials, by barring them without reason. Furthermore, having a film crew inside the polling station only helps to ensure that elections are carried out properly, without any misconduct.

The press is meant to act as a watchdog for the people. There is no justifiable reason that film crews should be barred from polling stations in such a manner.

Staff: - 11/07/07