U.S. States Split on Polling Rules, With 15 Banning Ballot Selfies

Q: What legally happens to your ballot if you are still standing in line when the polls officially close tonight?

If you are in line when the polls officially close, your ballot must still be accepted and counted under the usual rules for that type of ballot. That is the universal Election Day rule across the country: being in line by closing time preserves your right to vote, even if you do not reach the check-in desk or voting machine until later. In practice, election workers typically mark the end of the line at closing time and allow everyone already there to remain. Once you check in and cast a regular ballot, it is handled like any other in-person ballot. If there is a separate issue such as missing ID, registration questions or voting at the wrong location, you may be given a provisional ballot instead. That ballot is not automatically rejected, but it is counted only after election officials verify your eligibility under state law. What does not matter is how long the line still takes to move after closing. What does matter is whether you were physically in line by the deadline. If you leave the line after polls close, you generally cannot return and still vote. Because procedures differ by state and even by county, voters with any dispute at the polling place should ask for a supervisor, request a provisional ballot if necessary, and contact an election protection hotline such as 866-OUR-VOTE or their state election office.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 3

15 states ban voters from taking selfies with completed ballots, while Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and West Virginia allow them only for absentee or mail-in voting.
100 feet is the common buffer for electioneering limits near polling places, though some states also bar political clothing, restrict loitering or ban exit polling.
14 states do not require voters to show identification at the polls because ID is checked during registration, while most other states require some form of ID on Election Day.
State-by-state rules also govern poll closing procedures, but one standard applies nationwide: voters already in line when polls close can still cast ballots, though those who leave after closing usually cannot rejoin.