Ballot poll

11-6-2012 - Holyoke (The Republican file photo / John Suchocki)

If you're reading this story on a smartphone while you wait in line to vote, put it away before you get into the booth. It's against the law to photograph your ballot to show other people, and the punishment is up to six months in jail.

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 56 Section 25 bans anyone from showing the marking of their ballot to another person "for any purpose not authorized by law."

A spokesman for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said there are two exceptions.

"A review of a recount ballot, that would be all. Or a counting of a ballot by an election official," said Brian McNiff. He said a voter is never allowed to show it to anyone else for any reason.

When asked why it's illegal, he said, "Because that's the statute."

Harvard's Digital Media Law Project says "states have these laws to prevent vote buying and coercion."

Social media is obviously a violation.

Former interim Sen. Mo Cowan has been making it a point to remind everyone of this law, sending out several tweets on the subject. He has endorsed Democrat Maura Healey for attorney general, and tweeted a picture of a hand-drawn ballot on notebook paper, with Healey's name and a checked box.