Don’t take ‘vote selfies’, South Carolina law enforcement warns

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – The South Carolina Division of Law Enforcement is reminding voters that it is illegal to take a photo of their ballot, share it, or display it for viewing.

On the Friday ahead of Tuesday’s general election, the agency warned voters that what is commonly called a “voting selfie” is strictly prohibited in the Palmetto State.

South Carolina voters are not allowed to use a camera inside a voting booth, SLED spokeswoman Renee Wunderlich said.

Section 7-25-100 of state law prohibits you from displaying your ballot, taking it out of the polling place, putting any mark on the ballot to identify it, bringing any mechanical device to mark the ballot, or remaining there for any longer. than the specified time allotted for voting after receiving notice of the expiration of time.

It also makes it illegal to interfere with a voter at a polling place or to mark another voter’s ballot; exert undue influence on a voter in preparing a ballot, attempt to induce a voter to show how a ballot was marked, or attempt to assist a voter by using a mechanical device to mark a ballot.

Violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $100 or imprisonment of up to a year.