Selfies are trend now, even though before the term was coined, people were already doing that. That being said, there’s a time and a place to take selfies. Driving while taking a selfie is a big no-no, taking them during funerals might come off as insensitive, and taking selfies while casting a vote is probably not a good idea either.
This is why the Electorial Commission in the UK has started briefing staff members on how to handle voters who take selfies during the voting process. In reality taking a selfie while voting is not illegal. However taking a photo of your election choices is, and taking a selfie could accidentally reveal your choices.
Some people don’t care if other people know what their choices are during the election, but rules are rules. Staff have been briefed on how to identify people about to take a selfie, and have been told to ask them to delete the photo as opposed to trying to wrestle the phone out of their hands.
According to an electorial services manager, “It would depend on exactly what they were taking a photograph of. We have told them to take a note of the names and addresses of anyone doing it. But we would not necessarily call the police.” However at the end of the day, it would be up to the police and Crown Prosecution Service to decide if taking a selfie could be worth prosecution.
However to keep things clean and hassle-free, perhaps leaving your phone in your pocket or in your bag while you cast your vote might be a better way to go.
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