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Election Day 2024: Can People See Who I Vote for President Today?

As you head to the polls today, are you concerned that people might find out how you voted? We have some answers.

Headshot of Thomas Kika
Headshot of Thomas Kika
Thomas Kika Former Writer
Thomas is a native of upstate New York and a graduate of the University at Albany. As a former member of CNET's How To team, he wrote about the intersection of policy, information and technology, and how you can best be served in that area. Outside of work, he can most often be found watching too many movies, reading too much, drinking too much coffee, or spending time with his cats.
Thomas Kika
2 min read
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Concerns about who can or cannot see who you voted for have resurfaced in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

 Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET

While voting is in some ways one of the most routine parts of American life, the choices we make on our ballots today can often be deeply personal and intimate decisions. And with Election Day 2024 finally here, many have increasingly begun to wonder: Can people see who I voted for?

The question has surged into the national spotlight, with an ad supporting Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris assuring women that their partners will not know if they vote for the vice president over former President Donald Trump. A similar ad targeted at men featuring George Clooney also popped over the weekend.

Concerns about voting privacy are not uncommon. A study from 2022 found that around 70% of voters in New Mexico believed people could find out how they voted. There can be any number of reasons why someone might want to keep their ballot choices private, and the idea has resonated with many as they weigh their options this election season.

Read on for all the information you need to know about the privacy of your ballot, and for more about the upcoming election, find out where each candidate stands on the child tax credit and find out what's on your ballot this year.

Can anyone see who I voted for?

The short answer: No. No one can find how you vote in any given election, unless you tell them personally. In fact, protections for a "secret ballot," as it's called, in the US, appear in all states' laws or constitutions, according to the Congressional Research Service.

"So when you go to vote, your name is not associated with your ballot," Michael Morse, an assistant law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, said in an NPR interview. "The ballot is anonymous. When it is tabulated, it won't be connected back to you."

Is there anything people can see about my vote?

Certain information about you related to voting is public. The list of registered voters in a given state -- known as "voter rolls" -- is publicly available information, and will list your name along with your address, party affiliation and potentially when you last voted. The Federal Election Commission also keeps records of individual contributions to political entities, such as campaigns, that are over $200.

Is sharing my vote legal?

In most cases, choosing to share who or what you voted for is legal. However, the trend of sharing "ballot selfies" -- pictures featuring your ballot with choices filled out -- on social media is illegal in some states and will potentially get you in trouble. You can check out CNET's breakdown to find out if sharing these sorts of photos is legal or not where you live.

For more, check out which states still let you register to vote today.