Justin Timberlake was applauded by a Tennessee state official late Tuesday for encouraging residents to vote even though he broke the law by taking a selfie while voting at a polling station near Memphis, Tenn., to share his message.
“We’re thrilled Justin can’t stop the feeling when it comes to voting so much that he voted early in person and is promoting voting to his millions of fans,” said the Tennessee Secretary of State office spokesman Adam Ghassemi.
“In Tennessee, using electronic devices inside polling locations to take pictures, videos or make calls is not allowed. We hope this encourages more people than ever to vote, but Tennesseans should only use their phones inside polling locations for informational purposes to assist while voting, like our free GoVoteTN mobile app. If polling officials discover someone violating this law they will ask the voter to put their phone away.”
The state’s reminder that photos should not be taken while in polling places calls into question why Timberlake was let off the hook.
Vince Higgins, communications director for the office of Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich, told KVUE the office did not have evidence provided by a polling official that Timberlake violated the law.
“While we are aware of an allegation that someone may have violated a Tennessee state election law, we have not been presented anything by an investigative authority,” Higgins said.
Higgins added that he was mistaken in a report earlier Tuesday that claimed the pop singer was under review for violating state election law by photographing his poll booth.
Timberlake had snapped a picture of himself on Monday, touting how he had traveled from California to New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Germantown, Tenn., to vote.
“I just flew from LA to Memphis to #rockthevote !!! No excuses, my good people!” Timberlake wrote in an Instagram post. “There could be early voting in your town too. If not, November 8th! Choose to have a voice! If you don’t, then we can’t HEAR YOU! Get out and VOTE! #exerciseyourrightovote.”
