Can I take a selfie when I go vote? Here’s what Texas law says
It’s time to head to the polls again in Texas. Early voting for the March 3 primary starts on Tuesday, Feb. 17 and goes until Friday, Feb. 27.
Some folks at the polling place may want to share a photo of themselves at the ballot box, or share their ballot with who they voted for on social media.
However, posting a completed ballot on social media is illegal in some states, though some First Amendment advocates believe such restrictions violate free speech rights.
Ballot selfies became a controversial topic in 2016 when singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake traveled from California to Tennessee to vote.
Afterward, he uploaded a photo of himself at the polls to Instagram, drawing questions about whether he broke the election law.
Here is what Texas laws say about photography at voting sites.
Can I take a selfie with my ballot at a Texas voting site?
Ballot selfies are Illegal in Texas, according to the state’s Election Code, which prohibits wireless communication and recording equipment within 100 feet of a voting site.
But the code doesn’t outline any penalties for those who violate the ban. It only says that “the presiding judge may require a person who violates this section to turn off the device or to leave the polling place.”
What do other states say about ballot photos?
Ballot selfies are allowed in 28 states as of November 2024, according to Ballotpedia.
Four states—Arizona, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas—only allow them for mail-in or absentee ballots.
Taking a photo of a ballot continues to be illegal in 15 states, according to Ballotpedia.
This story was inspired by earlier reporting from the Star-Telegram’s Tiffani Jackson.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Can I take a selfie when I go vote? Here’s what Texas law says."
