A federal judge's ruling overturned a ban on photographs of ballots in Michigan, but Michigan's Attorney General is fighting in court to keep the ban in place.

A voter shows off a sticker picked up at a Michigan polling place. A federal judge's ruling two weeks before the election means people will be allowed to take photos of their ballots in Michigan and post them online, pending further court action.

The ruling in a federal lawsuit filed by Joel Crookston of Portage means voters will be allowed to take "selfies" with their ballots and post them to social media, pending further court action.

U.S. District Court Judge Janet T. Neff issued a Monday, Oct. 24, preliminary injunction against enforcement of Michigan laws that prohibit ballot photographs.

Neff wrote that the plaintiff demonstrated a substantial likelihood that the Michigan laws and corresponding rules are unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is fighting the ruling and filed an emergency motion for a stay of the ruling pending an emergency appeal.

The preliminary injunction "threatens the integrity and smooth running of the upcoming election," Schuette's filing states.

The case raises constitutional challenges to Michigan Compiled Laws, which prohibit ballot exposure by any mean, Schuette argues.

"Cell phone camera use and photography are acceptable in many circumstances," the AG's filing states. "But it is not unconstitutional to prohibit their use in the polling place..."

The judge ordered the plaintiff to respond to the AG's filing no later than noon on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

The court action comes about two weeks before Michigan's Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election.

On Nov. 6, 2012, Crookston used a camera on his cell phone to take a photo of his ballot and posted it on Facebook. His ballot was rejected under Michigan law.

Crookston's lawyer, Stephen Klein of Washington D.C.-based Pillar of Law Institute asked for the court to rule the Secretary of State's rules are unconstitutional.

Klein argued the laws "deprive individuals of the First Amendment right to express themselves freely..."

In September, a federal appeals court ruled New Hampshire's ban against selfies in the voting booth infringed on free speech.

In Lansing, Democrat Legislator Sam Singh introduced a bill in March to allow photographs of ballots. It was read in the House of Representatives and referred to the Elections committee.