There’s been some confusion around the country over whether or not it’s permissible for voters to photograph their ballots and broadcast them the world using photo-sharing services like Instagram. In New York, it’s a misdemeanor, as Gothamist reports.
But in D.C., it’s totally fine to snap a pic of your ballot. District code stipulates that “Voting in all elections shall be secret,” as the Citizen Media Law Project points out. Preserving that secrecy, though, is apparently incumbent upon the poll workers. Unlike Virginia—where photographing ballots is also legal—the District has no written statement on the matter. It’s also legal in Maryland.
However, some polling places implement a ban on cell phone usage, and the Citizen Media Law Project warns that filming or photographing a polling place can be construed as voter intimidation.
But in D.C., as long as the polling place allows you to whip your phone out, go ahead and snap a pic of your ballot. You can even throw a sepia filter and beige frame on the image and slap it on Instagram.