By Dylan Sharkey | Illinois Policy Institute
Illinois voters face a surprising legal risk by showing their civic duty: taking a selfie with your completed ballot is a Class 4 felony punishable by 1-3 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
An innocent snap showing your voting pride could theoretically land you behind bars in Illinois. The outdated law stems from concerns about vote-buying schemes in which voters would need to provide photographic evidence of their vote to collect payment.
Even sharing with a small group of friends is illegal because the felony extends to anyone “observing” unlawful voting, which includes shared ballot selfies.
But vote buying itself is already illegal nationwide, so the picture prohibition in Illinois feels unnecessary.
State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, introduced legislation legalizing ballot selfies. But his House Bill 1894 stalled in the Rules Committee, where legislation often goes to die.
So, as the April 1 elections approach, Illinois voters should be aware of this peculiar legal risk.
More here.