Photographing your mail-in ballot is not illegal in Maryland or Delaware, restrictions apply inside polling locations

MARYLAND – It’s becoming more popular for voters to post photos of their mail-in ballots on social media as a way to encourage others to vote. It’s not illegal in Maryland or Delaware to do so but officials are reminding voters of a few things if they choose to do that.

First off, Maryland election officials say there isn’t really any information that can be taken from a photo of a ballot that would compromise it but it’s a good idea to make sure your address is not in the photo. Officials also say they take all the steps they can to ensure the secrecy of the voting process so it’s the voter’s choice to share or not to share that information. However, the rules are more strict inside voting centers because photos are not allowed inside any in-person polling location.

“In a voting booth, we not only are concerned with a specific voter’s privacy but everybody’s privacy. So that is where the rule of no photography or cameras inside the that election officials can control and that’s why those rules are there,” says Nikki Charlson with the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Officials say there are of course other ways to post about voting on social media that don’t include pictures of your actual ballot. For example, if you’re voting by mail you can always take a photo near a ballot drop off box.