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Covering Election Day? Know your rights at the polls
With the midterms one week away, here’s a primer on journalists’ rights at the polls, built on a previous interview and resources from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Start with the right guide. Journalists generally have a right to access election information such as voter rolls, ballot counts and recounts, but the rules change at the state line. If you’re covering Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, RCFP’s Election Legal Guide, updated for 2026, breaks down the law state by state. It’s also available in Spanish. For other states, see the “Election Records” section of RCFP’s Open Government Guide.
Know how close you can get. Exit polling rules vary widely. Wisconsin allows it as long as you don’t disrupt the election, Pennsylvania requires you to stay 10 feet from the polling place, Georgia sets the line at 25 feet, and Arizona bars exit interviews and photos within 75 feet.
Know what’s public. In Florida and Michigan, ballots are public records you can inspect and copy. In Pennsylvania, they aren’t, and only candidates and their representatives can observe a recount.
Watch the camera rules. Ballot selfie laws are still in flux. A federal court upheld North Carolina’s ban on photos inside the voting booth this spring, and the case is now on appeal.
Get help fast. Review the rules where you’re reporting before Nov. 3, and if a question comes up, contact RCFP’s free Legal Hotline.
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