Media Advisory: Guidance for Coverage at Polling Places

RALEIGH, N.C. -- With early voting beginning Wednesday, the State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement is reminding members of the media about laws regarding media coverage at polling locations. Early voting begins Wednesday (October 17) and runs through November 3. Election Day is November 6.

“Buffer zones” are designated near the entrance of all polling locations. No electioneering or loitering is permitted inside the zone.

Media representatives who wish to enter the voting enclosure must get the approval of the chief judge at the precinct. The chief judge may allow the media to photograph or record video inside the voting enclosure, with consent of the voter(s) being filmed or photographed.  § 163A-1133(b)

The media may not interview voters within the voting enclosure.

If you are photographing or videotaping a candidate in the voting enclosure, only the permission of the candidate is required (not the chief judge). § 163A-1133(b)

It is a violation of law to photograph or videotape a marked ballot. § 163A-1105(e)

Questions? Please contact patrick.gannon@ncsbe.gov or the elections director in the county where you wish to visit polling places.