Ballot Selfies: Will You Be Arrested in Broome?

Bob Joseph/WNBF News [file][/caption]

With a federal judge's decision to uphold New York's law prohibiting "ballot selfies," some Broome County voters may be wondering if they'll be arrested if they ignore the ban.

The bottom line for people who insist on taking a photograph of themselves with a completed ballot in Broome County on Election Day: You probably won't wind up in legal hot water.

During an interview on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program Monday, deputy election commissioners Karen Davis and Christina Dutko suggested arrests are highly-unlikely.

Technically, under state law, New York voters are not supposed to take a picture of a filled-out ballot. Voters may take a photo of themselves at the polling place or of the machine.

The deputy commissioners acknowledged there won't be cops on hand to keep on eye out for people trying to surreptitiously evade the ballot selfie ban.

A person could wind up being arrested if they give polling place personnel "a hard time." But Davis and Dutko indicated they don't believe that's going to be a problem.

Although ballot selfies are illegal in New York and several other states, they are not prohibited in some states.

Polls in New York State will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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