Global Freedom of Expression

Rideout v. Gardner

Closed Expands Expression

Key Details

  • Mode of Expression
    Electronic / Internet-based Communication
  • Date of Decision
    August 11, 2015
  • Outcome
    Law or Action Overturned or Deemed Unconstitutional
  • Case Number
    14-cv-489-PB
  • Region & Country
    United States, North America
  • Judicial Body
    Appellate Court
  • Type of Law
    Constitutional Law
  • Themes
    Content Regulation / Censorship, Political Expression

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Case Analysis

Case Summary and Outcome

New Hampshire U.S. District Court ruled that an amended state law that makes it unlawful for voters to take and disclose photos of their voting ballots to show others how they have voted was a content-based restriction on speech that could not survive the standard of strict scrutiny. The Court ruled that the amended law was content based because it restricted speech on the basis of its subject matter. The Court dismissed the state’s defense that a ballot is a non-public forum and thus, strict scrutiny should not be applied. To the Court, the argument was flawed because the law did not restrict speech on the ballot, but the public dissemination of the ballot. To withstand strict scrutiny, a law must further a compelling interest and be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. For an interest to be compelling, it must address an actual problem. New Hampshire does not have a problem with voter buying or other voter fraud, so  no problem exists that the law alleges to address.

 


Facts

In 2014, an existing law that forbid voters from disclosing their voter ballots was amended. The amended law, the New Hampshire Revised Statute § 659:35,  penalized with fines the taking and sharing of digital images or photographs of marked voter ballots and sharing those images on social media or in other public ways. The amendment was intended to curb buying votes. The Court noted that New Hampshire did not offer evidence showing that vote buying or voter coercion had not occurred in New Hampshire since the late 1800s.

The plaintiffs in this case were three of the four people the Attorney General began to investigate in an alleged violation of the statute. Leon Rideout, the first plaintiff, photographed his marked voter ballot and posted in on Facebook and Twitter. Andrew Langlois, the second plaintiff, wrote the name of his dead dog on his ballot, took a picture of it and shared in on Facebook. Brandon Ross, the third plaintiff, took a photo of his marked voter ballot and  posted in on Facebook with a phrase “Come at me bro,” as he was aware of the amended law.


Decision Overview

Honorable Judge Paul Barbadoro, of the New Hampshire U.S. District Court, wrote the memorandum and order. The Court first ruled on whether the restriction on speech was content based or content neutral. The distinction is important because, content based speech must withstand higher scrutiny. Applying precedent from Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 135 S. Ct. 2218 (2015), the Court ruled that the amended law is content based because it restricts speech on the basis of its subject matter. The Court dismissed the state’s defense that a ballot is a non-public forum and thus, strict scrutiny should not be applied. To the Court, the argument was flawed because the law did not restrict speech on the ballot, but the public dissemination of the ballot.

To withstand strict scrutiny, a law must further a compelling interest and be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. For an interest to be compelling, it must address an actual problem. New Hampshire does not have a problem with voter buying or other voter fraud, so  no problem exists that the law alleges to address.


Decision Direction

Quick Info

Decision Direction indicates whether the decision expands or contracts expression based on an analysis of the case.

Expands Expression

The decision expands expression by striking down a law that prevents voters from sharing photos of their ballots publicly. The decision reiterated that a government must have an actual problem (a compelling state interest) in order to justify restrictions on speech.

Global Perspective

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Global Perspective demonstrates how the court’s decision was influenced by standards from one or many regions.

Table of Authorities

National standards, law or jurisprudence

Case Significance

Quick Info

Case significance refers to how influential the case is and how its significance changes over time.

The decision establishes a binding or persuasive precedent within its jurisdiction.

The decision was issued by the U.S. District Court, which has precedent in its district and in some cases beyond the district.

Official Case Documents

Official Case Documents:


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