London: UK election officials have asked voters not to take selfies at the polling stations as it may infringe rules on voting secrecy and could land them in jail.
The Electoral Commission said: "Due to the potential breach of the law, intentionally or not, we strongly advise against any form of photography taken inside a polling station."
"However, if a voter would like to highlight their participation in the elections, we suggest this is done outside the polling station before or after they vote," the Commission said as voters thronged polling stations across the country on Thursday.
Though it is not illegal to take pictures but the election commission strongly discourages the practice.
People have been warned that they could face a fine of 5,000 pounds or six months in prison if they revealed how someone else voted, even accidentally, local media reported.
In practice, election staff might ask anyone taking a picture to delete it rather than go straight to the police.
"It would depend on exactly what they were taking a photograph of," one electoral services manager said.
Polls opened at around 50,000 polling stations across the UK. A total of 650 Westminster MPs will be elected, with about 50 million people registered to vote.
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