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Elections

Think Twice, It's Not All Right To Take A 'Ballot Selfie' When You Vote In Texas

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Taking selfies with ballots is illegal in 18 states. In Texas, it's prohibited to take a photo with your ballot when voting in person.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Nina Pham settles her lawsuit against Texas Health Resources; Fort Worth Symphony cancels concerts through Dec. 31; students rate an SMU professor as one of the best in the country; and more.

In this day and age, taking a selfie to document a momentous occasion is commonplace. But, in Texas, it’s not always legal — specifically when you’re casting your ballot. Early voting just started Monday, so hopefully we’re catching most of you before you head to the polls. But taking a selfie with your ballot (when voting in person) is illegal. Don’t do it. Don’t risk it. Wait until you get your “I Voted” sticker.

In Texas, photography within 100 feet of polling stations is prohibited, The Associated Press reports. Photos of mail-in ballots are OK, but would that be as satisfying? Texas banned cameras and recording equipment long before the smartphone selfie culture boomed — actually just a few months after the first iPhone came out in 2007.

Each state has a different policy — see how they compare on this map. For other helpful voting tips, explore our early voting guide. You’ll learn where you can vote, what you should bring to the polls and what to do if you have any issues. Also, find highlights on local races and issues as well as sample ballots. [KERA News, AP]

  • Nurse Nina Pham settled her lawsuit against Texas Health Resources. In the fall of 2014, Pham contracted Ebola while caring for Eric Thomas Duncan, the first person in the U.S. to be diagnosed with the disease, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. She claimed in the lawsuit that the company did not properly train and protect its staff and that Texas Health violated her privacy by publicizing information about her condition, The Dallas Morning News reports. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. [The Dallas Morning News]

 

  • Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has canceled concerts through the end of the year. Cancelations continue due to the ongoing musicians strike, which began Sept. 8. The most recent meeting on Saturday between the FWSO and the Musicians’ Union did not change the current circumstances, according to a press release. The symphony says if the strike ends before Dec. 31, some performances may be reinstated. More information about the concert cancelations and ongoing strike is available atwww.fwsymphony.org. [KERA News]

 

  • For the second year in a row, SMU's Brian Fennig has been ranked by students on Rate My Professor’sTop 25 Professors List. In the 2014-15 school year, he ranked 11th. This year, Fennig ranked No. 4 among the top five professors. According to the SMU Daily Campus, “Fennig came to SMU in 2001 and joined the Applied Physiology and Wellness Department as a lecturer, and today he teaches both Personal Responsibility and Wellness and Individual Fitness.” [SMU Daily Campus]

 

  • Dallas Area Rapid Transit on Monday opened two more stations as part of a three-mile Blue Line expansion to the south. The new light rail locations include stops at Camp Wisdom and the University of North Texas at Dallas. Spokesman Morgan Lyons says the DART light rail system has now grown to 93 miles and 64 stations, The Associated Press reports. DART is the longest light rail system in America. [The Associated Press]