NATIONWIDE— If you've scrolled through Twitter or Instagram lately, chances are your newsfeeds are flooded with smiling faces showing off an "I Voted" sticker or even someone literally dropping off their ballot in a ballot box. Want to join in? Before you snap that selfie, you may want to check out your local laws to avoid a fine or even prison time.
Yes, really.
Those ballot selfies are actually illegal in some states.
We get it: You don't want to call up your town's resident lawyer before you send a snap out. Don't worry, we've got everything you need to know, right here.
Just a reminder, no matter where you live, you can always take a photo sporting your "I Voted" sticker. And, for your own safety, we recommend not posting any personal information, like your address, online.
California
California, you're in luck! Pull out your phone and get the 'gram you're after. There's no law against photography at polling places in The Golden State.
You can take a selfie outside your polling location, inside your polling location, or even with your ballot. There's even a specific part of your state's elections code that protects your selfie rights on Election Day. However, California Elections Division does ask that you try and limit how many pictures you take, and do not cause any disruptions to others.
Florida
Florida does have some photography restrictions surrounding your official ballot and polling places. You need to avoid taking photos both inside and outside your polling place. But, you can take a photo of your ballot privately. If you're still hanging on to that absentee ballot feel free to take a quick snap before dropping it off.
Kentucky
Hey, Bluegrass Staters, your ballot selfie rules are a little complicated. If you're looking to post a picture to your feed though, you have some options.
You've got the go-ahead to take photos both inside and outside of your polling location. Plus, you can take a photo of your blank ballot. It's important to not take a photo after you've started filling it out though since Kentucky does not allow photos of marked ballots under any circumstances. This is to ensure there's no vote-buying going on. That's when people collect money for voting for a certain candidate or party. If you already filled it out but forgot to get a quick pic, you can get a picture of it in an envelope or without capturing any indication of who you voted for.
Massachusetts
If you're voting in Massachusetts you get free reign to take photos outside of your polling location. Once you head in, you can still take photos, but make sure you're outside of the voting area. The state doesn't want you to capture any images of other people's ballots on accident. You also can't take a photo of your own marked ballot. If you take a picture with an unmarked ballot, or you can't distinguish who you voted for in the photo (i.e.: you just got the edge of the paper, or it's in an envelope) you're in the clear.
Massachusetts also has a law that doesn't allow any pictures of marked ballots to avoid vote-buying.
New York
Depending on where you live in New York, your rules vary.
If you live in New York City, you cannot take any photos in or around polling places. If you live anywhere else in the state though, you can.
As far as taking any photos of marked ballots, it doesn't matter where you live, it's not allowed. New York says this is to prevent vote-buying.
North Carolina
North Carolina laws regarding ballot selfies are pretty strict. The only chance you'll have to get a picture of Election Day is outside of the polling place. Once you go inside, there are no photos allowed, and that includes photos of ballots.
Ohio
Ohio laws about polling pictures are also intense.
The Ohio Secretary of State's office says you can take photos in or around your polling location, but you're prohibited from posting or sharing them on the internet. It's also illegal to share photos of your ballot once it's been filled out.
Texas
In Texas, you are not allowed to take photos or videos within 100 feet of a polling place (yes, that includes inside the location). The only chance you have to take a picture of you doing your civic duty is if you're voting by mail. You can take a picture of (or with) your ballot before sending it out.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, it's completely fine if you take a photo of yourself voting, or of your unmarked or indistinguishable ballot. You can also take a quick picture outside of your polling location. Although it's important to know that you're not allowed to show your marked ballot to anyone else, which means that's a no-go for marked ballot selfies for Wisconsinites.
There's technically no law against taking a few photos inside your polling location, but the Badger State would prefer if you didn't. You're not supposed to do anything that causes a distraction.