Don’t take ‘selfies’ in ballot booth
The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa warns South African against taking pictures of themselves (selfies) in the ballot booth, or of their ballot papers during Wednesday's elections.
Independent Electoral Commission of SA spokeswoman Kate Bapela says: “It is an offence to take and/or publish photographs which reveal a person’s vote on a ballot paper. Transgressors will be arrested and prosecuted. Upon conviction offenders will be liable to a fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year.”
Bapela said there had been instances of overseas voters taking such photographs as well as apparent social media campaigns promoting the action.
“Voters may take photographs of themselves outside the voting station and of their inked thumbs to show their participation.” concluded Bapela.
A “selfie” refers to a self-portrait that you post online.
It is specifically a picture with you in it that you took yourself and it is shared on one of the many social networking sites such as, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like.
