- Tuesday, November 8th is the last day you can vote in the midterm elections 2022.
- Many voters love to share photos of their ballots via social media in order to encourage other voters.
- Before you take a selfie in public, check to see if it is legal.
The 2022 midterm elections take place on Tuesday November 8.
Social media has been a popular tool for encouraging others to exercise their rights 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. It can be anything you want, including a photo of a ballot or an “I voted!” sticker. This may be permitted at some polling locations, but many states have laws that make it illegal to take selfies at the voting booth or photograph a marked ballot.
Most people take photos of their ballots when they are using their phones at the polls. This is what causes problems with cellphone use at the polls. Although state laws don’t prohibit the posting of photos of ballots on social networks, they prohibit others from seeing marked ballots. These laws protect voters from voter coercion and vote-buying.
Currenty, 27 states allow voters to take selfies of themselves at the polls and use their phones for that purpose. Some states allow voters to use their smartphones to view information about candidates, if needed, in order for them make an informed decision on Election Day.
Twenty states have banned the use of phones or taking selfies with ballots. There are no laws in Delaware or Maine that prohibit phone use. However, it is strongly discouraged.
Only photos of mail in ballots are permitted in Texas, Arizona and Alaska.
There will be signs at many polling stations indicating rules for phone use. While it is rare for states not to prosecute voters who violate phone use laws at the polls (although it is possible), you should double-check the law in order to avoid having your vote invalidated or discarded.
