Taking Selfies With Election Ballots Is Actually Illegal & Here’s How To Avoid Any Trouble

Put those phones down, Canada! Taking selfies with your election ballot is actually illegal and it's a pretty big deal if you break the rules.

Whether you're planning to vote via mail, in the advance polls or in-person on September 20, it's important to remember that taking any photos of a marked ballot is against the law.

Regardless of whether it's yours or someone else's, Elections Canada says posing with a marked ballot of any kind violates the secrecy of the vote under the Canada Elections Act.

To avoid double-trouble, steer clear of sharing any images of you and/or your marked ballot on social media too, as this is also considered to be a violation of the Act.

"It is the duty of the election officers who are present at the polling station to draw the attention of any elector to an offence," it reads.

In a Twitter notice on September 10, Elections Canada reminded Canadians that taking any type of photo or video inside the polling station and behind the privacy screen is strictly prohibited, too. It's also off-limits to photograph anybody working there.

If you do want to mark the occasion with a selfie or an Instagram pic though, you can pose outside of the polling station or at home before you go. Just make sure that your ballot is nowhere to be seen!

*This article's cover image is for illustrative purposes only.