Can you take a photo while voting? Wear a slogan? See what’s allowed at polls

Voter Guide admin October 20, 2026 0 Comments

Can you take a photo while voting? Wear a slogan? See what’s allowed at polls

Early voting is underway, and Election Day is quickly approaching. Whether you vote or now or on Nov. 3, you’ll need to follow some rules at the polling place.

Here’s a list of what you can — and can’t — do while voting in South Florida:

Can you take a photo of your ballot?

READ MORE: Early voting is now open in South Florida. Check the rules, dates, locations

Whether you’re in the voting booth or voting by mail, you may get the urge to take a photo of your ballot — or even a selfie.

You are allowed to do that, but you’re the only person who can be in the photo. Taking photos of anyone else in the voting room is not allowed, regardless of whether it’s your best friend, significant other or parent.

You can take a photo of your ballot — filled out or not — but you can’t post it on social media or text it to someone.

Under Florida law, only you are allowed to see your completed ballot. Showing others a photo of your ballot is a first-degree misdemeanor.

But you are allowed to take a photo with your “I Voted” sticker and post that to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook.

What can’t you wear to vote?

You can wear clothing with candidate names or political slogans, whether it’s a shirt, hat or button. Wearing a shirt telling a candidate to [expletive deleted] or sending another explicit message is also allowed.

But you can’t distribute flyers or sell handmade political items. You also can’t bring in signs or posters — that’s considered voter solicitation under state law.

If you plan on handing out flyers or signs for your favorite candidate, you must stay at least 150 feet away from the polling place like other campaign workers and volunteers.

With Halloween falling within the two-week stretch of early voting, what about wearing a costume? Yes, you can come dressed as the Addams Family, Shrek or any other holiday favorite at the polls, as long as you’re not disrupting other voters. But if your mask covers your whole face, you’ll need to remove it so that poll workers can verify that your ID photo matches your real-life features. Sorry, Darth Vader.

Can you bring a sample ballot into the polls?

You are allowed to bring a sample ballot or a list, whether it’s on paper or your phone, into a polling place to remind you how you planned to vote. But distributing a list to others is considered voter solicitation and isn’t allowed.

Can you listen to music while you vote?

As long as your music is not so loud that it distracts other voters, you can listen to any of your favorite songs in your earbuds or headphones while voting. As for speakers with a subwoofer — you aren’t on Ocean Drive.

Can you bring your kid into the voting booth with you?

You are allowed to bring your child into the polls with you as long as they are under 18.

What if you need help in the voting booth?

If older or disabled people need assistance in the voting booth, they can have another person accompany them. If you are requesting assistance due to a disability, you don’t need to disclose information about the nature or extent of your disability to poll workers.

Can you bring my service animal with me to the polls?

You can bring your service animal or emotional support animal into the polls with you to vote if needed.

Can you make a phone call while voting?

Talking on the phone while in the polls is not allowed. Silence your phone or turn it off while you are voting, and if you do try to make a call, a poll worker will likely ask you to stop.

What if you make a mistake on your ballot?

If you realize you made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can ask a poll worker to “spoil” it. That means that it will be destroyed. You can then ask for a new ballot to start over.

If you make a mistake on your mail ballot at home, you must bring it to your Supervisor of Elections office and a new one will be issued, and the sooner you do it the better. All mail-in ballots must be received at the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

You can also go to an early voting center or to your assigned precinct on Election Day if you make a mistake on your mail-in ballot, poll workers will spoil it and allow you to vote in person.

If you are traveling or away from home, make a mistake on your mail-in ballot and can’t get to the Supervisor of Elections office or to a voting center, you should call your voting supervisor’s office, according to the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections office.

In Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties, voters have a limit of three spoiled ballots.

What if you forget to bring your photo ID to the polls?

When you go to vote, you must bring a valid photo ID. Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties have a list of which IDs are acceptable.

If you forget your ID, you can still vote with a provisional ballot, and the canvassing board will compare your signature to the one in your voter registration record to ensure they match. If they don’t, the Supervisor of Elections office will try to contact you.

If you vote with a provisional ballot, Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe have online portals where you can track your ballot and make sure your vote was counted.