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Want to take a 'ballot selfie' on Election Day? Here are the states where phone use at the polls is allowed.

Nov 3, 2022, 00:37 IST
Business Insider
While some states prohibit voters from taking photos of their ballots, "ballot selfies" are legal in others.Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images
  • The last day to vote in the 2022 midterm elections is Tuesday, November 8.
  • Many voters like to share pictures of their ballots on social media to encourage other voters.
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The 2022 midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 8.

Social media has become a popular way for people to encourage others to exercise their right to vote. Posting photos of yourself with your ballot — also known as a "ballot selfie" — is one way voters share how they're exercising their rights. This can be anything from a picture with a mail-in ballot to a photo of an "I voted" sticker. While this may be allowed at certain polling places, many states actually have laws making it illegal to snap selfies at the voter booth or take photos of a marked ballot.

The problem with phone use at the polls mostly revolves around people taking photos of their marked ballots. While state laws don't specifically ban posting photos of ballots on social media, they do prohibit showing marked ballots to others. These laws are to protect voters from bribery, vote-buying, and voter coercion, securing Americans' right to a secret ballot.

Currently, 27 states and the District of Columbia allow voters to take ballot selfies or use cell phones at the polls. Some states let voters use their phones to access information about the candidates if they need assistance making their decision on Election Day.

Phone usage or ballot selfies are completely banned in 20 states. Although there are no specific laws about phone use in Delaware and Maine, phone use is strongly discouraged.

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In Alaska, Arizona, and Texas, only photos of mail-in ballots are allowed.

Many polling places will display signs indicating the rules of phone use, so be sure to check what your local station does and does not allow. It is rare for states to prosecute voters for violating phone use laws at the polls, however it's to double-check the law to avoid the risk of your vote being challenged or discarded.

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