Even though I always tell myself I’m going to do less of it, it seems like each day I spend at least part of my evening, as you likely do too, scrolling through my Facebook page, Twitter feed, and Instagram account. And even if you are the most novice social media user, you are already aware that posting selfies to the various social media sites is absolutely the norm. In fact, society probably considers you weird if you’re not doing it. My friends and yours, me and you, we are posting selfies of everything -duckface selfies, post workout selfies, car selfies, bathroom selfies, dressing room selfies, bedtime selfies – literally everything! And with election day looming, you may have even already began to think about what your election day ballot selfie is going to look like. Let’s hope not, but if you have, make sure you don’t make the same Photographing Voted Ballot Prohibited
N.C.G.S. 163-166.3(c) makes it unlawful for a voted ballot to be photographed. Precisely, you can be found in violation of this law if you
1. Photograph, videotape, or record the image
2. Of a voted official ballot
3. For any purpose not otherwise permitted under law
Punishment for Photographing Voters and a Voted Ballot
So, you may be thinking “What’s the big deal? What can really happen to me if I violate one of these laws by taking my own election day ballot selfie?” Well, violation of either of the above statutes is a Class 1 Misdemeanor in North Carolina. Depending on your prior criminal record, in addition to a fine in an amount left to the discretion of the judge, punishment for a Class 1 Misdemeanor ranges from unsupervised probation to 120 days’ active jail time.
If you ultimately decide to snap that election day ballot selfie, maybe nothing will happen. Maybe you won’t receive a citation, a fine, or jail time. However, after reading this blog, you can’t say you weren’t warned. Don’t take the chance. Instead, once you’re outside and away from your voting precinct, turn your election day ballot selfie into an “I voted” sticker selfie! Your friends, and me, will appreciate it just the same as we spend the evening of November 8th scrolling through all the “I voted” selfies posted to our social media accounts.
