Election Day 2024: selfies and votes, what could go wrong? A lot this year
As you head to the polls this Election Day, you may be hoping to take a photo of your completed ballot to share with friends and family, perhaps on the social media site of your choice. And why not? Maybe your photo will encourage those same friends and family to vote too. But depending on where you live, this may actually be illegal.
In many elections, turnout is important, and taking pride in fulfilling your civic responsibility can be something to celebrate. That celebration may include sharing your completed ballot with friends or family via text message or social media in the form of a selfie. Many state governments agree, as the practice is legal in about half of the states. However, outside of these states, your right to share a voting selfie may be limited or downright illegal.
The practice of taking and posting a voting selfie while voting has become increasingly popular because we always have a camera with us and, with social media, an easy way to share the photos we take with our phones. As this trend grew, some states moved to regulate it, concerned that the footage could undermine the integrity of the election process and violate the right to vote secretly. There is also some concern about the use of these photos as evidence of election choices in an illegal “paid to vote” scheme.
Read on for a full breakdown of which states have a bone to pick with your voting selfie.
For more information about the 2024 elections, check out where each candidate stands on the child tax credit and which states won’t let you register to vote online.
In which states are voting selfies illegal?
Voting selfies are completely illegal in 16 states according to Ballotpedia:
- Alaska
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
In six states, the laws are unclear about this practice, so it might be best to play it safe and not take that selfie:
- Connecticut
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- New Mexico
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
And four states allow you to take a selfie with your completed ballot, but only if you vote absentee or by mail, situations in which you would fill out the ballot at home:
- Arizona
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia
Everywhere else, including Washington, DC, it is perfectly legal to take and share a voting selfie.
What are the penalties for taking an illegal voting selfie?
As for what might happen if you run afoul of voting laws in one of the states where doing so is illegal, the penalties you face are not clear in all cases. Below is a list of the states where possible legal consequences are known.
- Illinois: As a Class 4 felony, taking a voice selfie and sharing it could potentially land you one to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $25,000.
- Massachusetts: “Not more than six months [in prison] or by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars,” state law states.
- Missouri: Although the penalty is not clear, the law classifies voting selfies as a Class 4 election violation, which is a misdemeanor.
Good for you for voting. Just be mindful of your state’s rules regarding sharing your community involvement with others. For more information about the upcoming elections, see which states have already started early voting.
