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Election Day, Selfies and Voting. What Could Go Wrong?

Think twice about sharing photos of your ballot after voting, because there could be real legal consequences.

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
3 min read
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Think twice before sharing a ballot selfie as you cast your vote this year.

 Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET

As you head to the polls this Election Day, you might be hoping to snap a photo of your completed ballot to share with friends and family, perhaps on your social media site of choice. And why not? Maybe your photo will encourage those same friends and family to vote as well. But depending on where you live, sharing that selfie could actually be illegal.

In many elections, turnout matters, and taking pride in fulfilling your civic responsibility can be something to celebrate. That celebration might involve sharing your filled-in ballot with friends or family via text or social media in the form of a selfie. Many state governments would agree with you there, as the practice is legal in about half the states. Beyond those states, though, your right to share a ballot selfie might be restricted or outright illegal.

The practice of taking and posting a ballot selfie while voting has become increasingly popular. As this trend grew, some states were inclined to regulate it, concerned the pictures could undermine the integrity of the electoral process and violate the right to cast a secret ballot. Some concerns also exist about these photos being used to show proof of electoral choices in an illegal "paid to vote" scheme.

Read on for a full breakdown on which states will have a bone to pick with your ballot selfie.

For more on the 2024 election, find out where each candidate stands on the child tax credit and how to track election results tonight.

In which states are ballot selfies illegal?

Before you snap that selfie, in these16 states, ballot selfies are completely illegal, 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 concerning the practice, so it's perhaps best to just play it safe and not take that selfie: 

  • Connecticut
  • Louisiana 
  • Maryland 
  • New Mexico 
  • Wisconsin 
  • Wyoming

And in four states, you can take a selfie with your completed ballot, but only if you're voting absentee or by mail, situations in which you would be filling out the ballot at home: 

  • Arizona 
  • Tennessee 
  • Texas 
  • West Virginia

Anywhere else, including Washington, DC, you're in the clear to take and share a ballot selfie.

What are the punishments for taking an illegal ballot selfie?

As for what might happen if you run afoul of ballot selfie laws in one of the states where it is illegal, the punishments you might face are not clear in every case. Below, you can find a list of the states where potential consequences under the law are known.

  • Illinois: As a Class 4 felony, taking a ballot selfie and sharing it can potentially net 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," according to state law.
  • Missouri: While punishment is not clear, the law classifies ballot selfies as a Class 4 election offense, which is a misdemeanor.

Good for you for voting. Just be aware of your state's rules around sharing your civic engagement with others. For more on the upcoming election, see which states still allow you today to register to vote.