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Are ballot selfies illegal?

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk and Brianna Chambers
By Cox Media Group National Content Desk and Brianna Chambers

As one of the most distinct elections in recent history comes to a close, voters are more motivated than ever to get to polls.

And people want to share their voting experiences with others.

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But some of the same people who used to take photos of themselves posing with an "I voted!" sticker are switching things up and getting more personal: They're posting selfies on social media with their completed ballots.   

And while Facebook recently enabled a feature that allows users to publicly endorse the political candidates of their choice, posting a selfie with a ballot can be problematic. In many states, the practice is illegal.

Here are the states in which ballot selfies are allowed:

  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wyoming

But in Colorado, sharing a ballot selfie is considered a misdemeanor. In Illinois, it's a felony. 

Other states have don't allow selfies with a completed ballot because "they can be considered influencing a vote or forcing someone to show proof of voting," the Associated Press reported.

Here are the states in which ballot selfies are illegal:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kansas
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Wisconsin

Thirteen other states, including Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas have unclear guidelines on whether ballot selfies are allowed. Most of these states don't allow cameras or photos inside polling places but have no clear penalties and allow photos of mailed ballots.

New Jersey Assemblyman Raj Mukherji called selfie ballots "a product of the times we live in."

"I was doing this for years before I learned it was ... illegal (in some states)," said Nebraska resident Nikola Jordan, who told the AP she's been taking photos with ballots for nearly 10 years. "It's all about encouraging other people to get involved in the process, to show it can be fun and exciting to make your voice heard (at the polls)."

Read more at The Associated Press.

Cox Media Group

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