Take selfies and go to jail

Election officials in Britain have warned voters not to share pictures taken of themselves in polling booths as they cast ballots on Thursday, warning that a "selfie" could land them in jail.

The Electoral Commission has said that while it is not illegal to take a selfie, sharing an image that showed -- accidentally or not -- how someone had voted would infringe rules on voting secrecy and could lead to a six-month prison sentence.

Instructions given to polling officials contained a section entitled: "'Selfies' in polling stations".

The manual suggested officials could choose to put up signs spelling out the directive and even prohibit the use of mobile phones in polling stations.

The relevant clause in the Representation of the People Act states that breaking secrecy rules in polling stations is punishable with a £5,000 (6,700 euros, $7,600) fine or six months in prison.