Bill to ban cameras in polling places withdrawn

Friday, April 5, 2013, Vol. 37, No. 14

NASHVILLE (AP) - A bill seeking to ban cameras in polling places has died for the year amid concerns that voters wouldn't be able to document problems.

Republican Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster withdrew the bill Tuesday after lengthy debate spanning several meetings of the House State Government Committee.

State Election Coordinator Mark Goins suggested at an earlier meeting that the bill would prevent people from presenting photographs of their votes for pay. He later acknowledged he had no evidence of such schemes occurring in Tennessee.

Opponents argued voters could use cellphone cameras to document mistakes by poll workers or on electronic voting machines. Others said they didn't want to ban the practice of photographing their children accompanying them to the voting booth.

The Senate had passed its version 27-0 last month.