Mississippi Advisory Opinions August 06, 1999: AGO 1999-0256 (August 06, 1999)

Advisory Opinion Text

Ms. Jackie Exum-Petty

Registrar, City of Columbus

P.O. Box 1408

Columbus, Mississippi 39703

Dear Ms. Exum-Petty:

Attorney General Mike Moore has received your request for an official opinion of this office and has assigned it to me for a reply. In your letter you state:

In the last two municipal elections individuals maintained video cameras at the polling places. These individuals were not obstructing traffic to the polling places and were located 30 feet in every direction from the room in which the election was held.

Would you please advise whether it is legal to maintain video cameras at the polling places?

This office is aware of no state statutory prohibition for the use of a video camera at a polling place when it is being used to record possible violations of the election laws of the state. However, the United States Department of Justice has taken the position that the use of video cameras is intimidating per se.

If we may be of further assistance to you, please let us know.

Very truly yours,

Mike Moore, Attorney General

Sandra Murphy Shelson Special Assistant Attorney General