Can you bring a phone into the voting booth? Take a selfie? What’s allowed at the polls
It’s the final week of early voting in South Florida before Election Day on Nov. 5.
Here’s a rundown of what you can and can’t do at a polling place as you cast your ballot:
Can you take a selfie?
Florida law allows voters to take a picture of their own ballot. That includes a picture at the voting booth, or elsewhere if you requested a vote-by-mail ballot.
What about ballot selfies? Yes, that’s allowed too — but there are rules.
First, only you can be in the photo with your ballot.
If voting in person, the photo can be taken only at the voting booth, which means you can’t take the shot in front of the ballot-counting machines.
You also can’t take your photo or one of anyone else inside the voting room, even if it’s your mom, significant other or best friend.
While the point of a selfie is usually to post it on social media, it’s illegal to post a picture of your ballot online, according to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections.
Florida law states no one is allowed to show others their personal ballot. Those who are caught doing that are “guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree,” according to Florida Statutes section 104.20.
Here’s an alternative: Take a photo with the classic (and totally legal) “I Voted” sticker. You can post that on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and anywhere else you want.
MORE: Want to vote before Election Day in South Florida? Here’s where — and tips to follow
Can you wear political clothing to the polls?
You can wear clothing with political slogans or candidate names, including shirts, buttons and hats inside the precinct if you’re planning to cast a ballot, according to the Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Supervisor of Elections offices.
But you can’t distribute political or campaign material like fliers or try to sell your handmade election memorabilia. You also can’t bring in signs or posters. All of that is considered voter solicitation under Florida law and is required to stay outside of the polling place and from the 150-foot zone surrounding the polling place.
MORE Ready to vote? What to know about polling places, candidates, issues in South Florida
Can you wear a mask? Or vote in a Halloween costume?
It’s Halloween week, so can you wear a costume at the polling place? Miami-Dade’s Supervisor of Elections office says it’s OK to vote in costume, as long as you’re not distracting or disrupting other voters.
Medical masks people wear to help reduce COVID are OK, and so are costume masks, according to the Miami-Dade elections office.
But keep in mind that if you show up dressed like Spider-Man or with another mask that covers your entire face, you’ll have to take it off so staff can look at your photo ID to verify it’s really you. For people who like to dress up like Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and other political figures, this rule goes for political costume masks, too.
Can you bring a sample ballot into the voting booth?
Voters can bring a sample ballot or a list with them to the polls to help them remember how they planned to vote, whether it’s printed or on their phone. But you can’t distribute your list of recommendations to anyone else at the voting booths. Voter solicitation is illegal inside the polling place.
Can voters bring service and emotional support animals to the polls?
Voters can bring in service dogs, service miniature horses and emotional support animals to the voting booth, according to Miami-Dade’s Supervisor of Elections office.
Can you bring your own pen? Clean the voting booth?
Want to avoid germs? You can wipe the voting booth clean before using it. And while pens are provided, you can bring your own. The type of ink color you can use may vary by county so check with your Supervisor of Elections office before heading to the polls.
If voting in Miami-Dade, for example, make sure to use a pen with blue or black ink.
Can you talk on the phone while voting?
Talking on the phone is a no-no during voting. So make sure to put your phone on silent or vibrate or turn it off. If you do get a call, or try to make one, a poll worker will likely ask you to end it.
Some of this information comes from Miami Herald archives in 2022.
