Election Day is almost here. Can you take a selfie with your ballot in Pennsylvania?

Believe it or not, we’re less than a month away from Election Day, and Pennsylvania is once again primed for a pivotal role as Americans prepare to head to the polls.

The commonwealth remains perhaps the most significant “swing state” in the country as Republicans and Democrats contend to win Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes. That spotlight should make the Keystone State’s roughly 9 million registered voters excited to head to their polling places, but could snapping a picture of their filled-out ballots cross the line?

Here’s what you need to know about ballot selfies and voter privacy in Pennsylvania.

Can I take a selfie with my ballot in Pennsylvania?

In most cases, yes.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of State’s latest Election Day guidelines, the commonwealth’s election code does not address the use of personal electronic devices in polling places. Instead, it recommends counties overseeing elections adopt “common-sense rules” that prioritize orderly voting sites and protecting the right to vote.

Taking a picture of your completed ballot — even a selfie — is within your rights in Pennsylvania. However, state officials recommend you take careful steps to avoid disclosing choices made by other voters.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry recommends voters wait until they leave their polling places to post photos of their ballots or selfies taken inside a voting booth.

Under Pennsylvania law, it is illegal to allow your ballot to be seen by other people “with the apparent intention of letting it be known how he is about to vote.” Violations of the statute, Title 25 § 3530, can fetch a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to a year of imprisonment.

Those hoping to share they voted without taking a picture with their ballot might instead consider wearing an “I Voted” sticker, taking a photo with election signage or even snapping a selfie next to an “I Voted” sign, state officials recommend.

How can I vote in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvanians must register to vote at least 15 days before the next election. If you plan on voting in the 2024 presidential election Tuesday, Nov. 5, you need to register by Monday, Oct. 21.

Those who register in Pennsylvania must be a U.S. citizen for at least one month before the election. They must also reside in the commonwealth and their election district for at least 30 days. Voters must be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.

Once you’re ready to register to vote, you can get started online by visiting pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx, applying through the mail or completing forms in person at your county’s election office, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offices and other government buildings.

To vote, you can visit your polling place in person on Election Day, vote by mail or even use an absentee ballot if you aren’t in Pennsylvania or encounter an emergency that would otherwise prevent you from voting.

Your county’s election office must receive mail-in and absentee ballot applications by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29. Completed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Nov. 5 to be counted.

You can check your voter registration status online through the Pennsylvania Department of State’s virtual portal by searching your name, driver’s license number or Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ID number. If you search by name, be sure to list your first and last name, date of birth, ZIP code and county of residence.

As of early October, more than 8.99 million Pennsylvanians were registered to vote. Notably, that figure is still down from the 9.09 million residents who were eligible to vote during the 2020 presidential election.

Republicans now hold voter registration advantages in four counties — Beaver, Berks, Bucks and Fayette — that previously leaned in favor of Democrats, according to 2020 end-of-year registration data published in 2021. Registration edges aside, Pennsylvania remains home to roughly 3.95 million registered Democrats and about 3.62 million registered Republicans.

To learn more about voting in Pennsylvania, visit pa.gov/en/agencies/vote.html.

This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM.

Matt DiSanto

Centre Daily Times

814-231-4616

Matt is a 2022 Penn State graduate. Before arriving at the Centre Daily Times, he served as Onward State’s managing editor and a general assignment reporter at StateCollege.com. Support my work with a digital subscription