UK election: Take a selfie during voting, land in trouble

London, May 7: Taking a selfie while casting a vote in the election to the British parliament on Thursday could see one pay a fine of 5,000 pounds (Rs 4,89,237) or get six months of jail, a London Evening Standard report said. [UK election: List of key candidates]

Taking picture of the ballot paper is not big a crime during the election but sharing a picture of the same on social media may land one in trouble under the Representation of the People Act. [Know about Uk election]

It is illegal to share information received in a polling station, which could include the unique reference number of a ballot paper, or how someone has voted or will vote, the report said. [UK election: When a voter can use proxy?]

The Electoral Commission had warned against taking selfies in the polling booth during the local elections last year.

"Given the risk that someone taking a photo inside a polling station may be in breach of the law, whether intentionally or not, our advice is that you should not allow photos to be taken inside polling stations," the report quoted the panel as saying.

Similar warnings were issued ahead of the partial solar eclipse in March when the College of Optometrists asked people not to take selfies during the phenomenon as it could have blinded them, the report added.

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