New Jersey Bars Ballot Photos in Voting Booths
Current state law prohibits photographing a completed ballot, and a pending bill would allow sharing such photos on social media.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 19:34-7 prohibits photographing a completed ballot inside a voting booth, and posting such photos on Facebook, Instagram, or X is not permitted under current law. Assemblyman Paul Kanitra introduced Assembly Bill A287 on January 26, 2026 to legalize photographing and sharing completed ballots.
Why it matters
Violating the statute can constitute a crime of the fourth degree, so voters in New Jersey face legal exposure when sharing ballot selfies. Taking a selfie that does not show a completed ballot generally appears permitted, provided voting is not interfered with and polling-place rules are followed.
Violating N.J.S.A. 19:34-7 can constitute a crime of the fourth degree, the penalty classification the statute carries. Whether Assembly Bill A287 will pass or what its final terms would be has not been determined.
The players
Paul Kanitra
Kanitra is a New Jersey Assemblyman who introduced Assembly Bill A287 to legalize photographing and sharing completed ballots.
The details
Displaying a completed ballot in the polling room is prohibited, and posting a completed ballot photo on Facebook, Instagram, or X is not permitted under the state's current interpretation of the ballot-secrecy law. Kanitra's Assembly Bill A287 would legalize photographing a completed ballot and sharing the photos on social media.
Timeline
January 26, 2026: Kanitra introduces Assembly Bill A287 to legalize sharing ballot photos.
October 24, 2026: Early in-person voting begins in New Jersey.
November 1, 2026: Early in-person voting continues through this Sunday.
Legal Context
Current New Jersey law under N.J.S.A. 19:34-7 restricts ballot photography, and Assembly Bill A287 would carve out an exception permitting completed-ballot photos to be shared on social media. The bill's outcome would determine whether the state's ballot-secrecy framework shifts toward permitting voter disclosure.
Sharing a photo of a completed ballot on social media can expose a New Jersey voter to a fourth-degree crime under current law. Selfies that do not show a completed ballot generally appear permitted, provided voting is not interfered with and polling-place rules are followed.
The takeaway
Voters in New Jersey should avoid posting a completed ballot photo while the current ballot-secrecy statute remains in force. Checking the status of Assembly Bill A287 before sharing election photos can help keep sharing within the law.
What happens next
Early in-person voting in New Jersey continues through Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more on Legislative Policy for context on how New Jersey ballot-secrecy rules fit into state lawmaking.
More information
Read the New Jersey Assembly Bill A287 legislation text for the full proposed language.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cat Country 107.3.
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