OAKLAND, California – You are at your polling station. You are excited to participate in the democratic process. You want to document the moment and perhaps share it on social media. Can you take a selfie where you vote?

In California, the short answer is “Yes.”

But as long as you don’t violate any other laws. And election officials and poll workers will ultimately have the discretion to ban selfies if they determine that the action causes a disruption that requires intervention.

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State election officials also say photos cannot lead to unauthorized sharing and use of information about how a person voted.

They also emphasize that taking photos at a polling place cannot jeopardize the privacy of other voters.

It is also illegal to intimidate other voters or interfere with the election process or the duties of election officials.

So-called “ballot box selfies” were not always legal in California, and they are not legal in all states.

California law changed on January 1, 2017, allowing voters to “voluntarily disclose how they voted if that voluntary action does not violate any other law.”

Prior to this, the State Department had historically taken a stance that the use of cameras and video equipment was prohibited at polling places.

Let’s take a look at the activities prohibited at polling stations in California:

• DO NOT ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.
• DO NOT display a candidate’s name, image or logo.
• Do not block access to or loiter near any ballot box.
• DO NOT provide any material or audio information or ballot measure for or against any candidate near any polling place, vote center or ballot box.
• DO NOT publish any petitions, including initiatives, referendums, recalls, or candidacy.
• DO NOT distribute, display or wear any clothing (hat, shirt, sign, button, sticker) that includes a candidate’s name, image, logo and/or that supports or opposes any candidate or ballot measure.
• Do not display information or talk to the voter about the voter’s eligibility to vote.
• DO NOT engage in electioneering; Take a photograph or record a voter entering or exiting a polling place; or block entry, exit or parking

California is also one of about a dozen states and Washington, D.C., where guns are completely banned at open or secret polling places.

As for what voters should bring to vote, California voters may be required to show identification in some, but not most, cases, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

Voters who vote for the first time after mailing in their registration to vote may be required to show identification if they do not include their driver’s license number, California ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number on the registration form.

Here is one list Acceptable forms of voter identification information to be used at polling places.

KTVU has prepared a comprehensive compilation California voter guide Important information and election-related dates to help ensure your vote counts.

You can also find a link to our 2024 Election news. HereWhere you can find information about the candidates as well as state and local ballot measures.