Can I Take a Voting Selfie? Do’s and Don’ts Inside the Polling Place

With less than a week until Election Day, early voting is well underway in the majority of U.S. states. Voters should confirm their polling place location and hours before they go to the polls on November 5 or for early voting, as they might have changed.

Since voter ID laws differ from state to state, voters should find out if their state requires any particular type of identification to cast their ballot.

Remember these points inside the polling place:

What are you not allowed to wear while voting?

Twenty-one states have statutes banning political apparel at the polls, known as electioneering, which includes any type of election-related clothing. The argument is that wearing or displaying political affiliations at a polling site could influence or intimidate others into voting for a specific candidate, party, or issue.

The rest of the states, including Washington, D.C., do not allow campaign materials, signs, banners, or literature near or inside polling sites but do not have specific guidelines about what voters can wear.

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According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont all have laws prohibiting electioneering apparel.

There are also state laws about how far someone needs to be from a polling place while wearing political clothing. For example, in California, it’s 100 feet, while in Alabama it’s 30 feet. Punishment for violating the rule also varies from state to state. In Kansas, wearing political attire within 250 feet of a polling location is considered a class C misdemeanour and can result in up to 30 days in jail or up to a $500 fine. Poll workers are allowed to ask voters to either cover up or remove their apparel or ask them to leave.

Can you vote in person after requesting a mail-in ballot?

If you request and receive an absentee or mail-in ballot but change your mind and decide to vote in person, some states will allow you to cast a regular ballot at a polling site. However, election officials do recommend voters stick to their original plan.

Can you take a selfie while voting?

Ballotpedia reports that ballot selfies are not allowed in 16 states: Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Several states allow citizens to take pictures with their own ballots at the polls, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Mexico, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, North Dakota, Kansas, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Virginia, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Washington.

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Can you bring your children along?

Children are allowed to join their parents at the polls in all 50 states, as well as in Washington, D.C. Some states, like Maryland, limit the number of children you can bring to the voting booth with you. Other states have laws that set a maximum age for kids who can come into the voting booth with you.

Are you allowed to bring your pets?

Voters are not allowed to bring their pets to vote unless they are service animals. New York City’s 2016 Republican mayoral candidate, Curtis Sliwa, learned this the hard way when he showed up to his polling place with one of his cats, which he had to leave outside before casting his vote.

FAQs

Can I take a selfie while voting?
In some states, taking a ballot selfie is illegal, and sharing it on social media may result in fines or other penalties. Before you take that photo, make sure to check your state's rules.

Can I bring my child to the voting booth?
Yes, most states allow children to vote alongside their parents, but some may impose an age limit or limit the number of children you can bring. If you're unsure, check with your local polling station.