Justin Timberlake selfie bill gets OK from Tennessee Senate

Voters in Tennessee got one step closer Thursday to being able to take a selfie inside a voting booth at the next election.

The Senate voted 30-0 in favor of a bill that would allow voters to take photos in a voting booth as long as they don't take a picture of their ballot, use a flash or noise on their phones or take photos of others.

The issue gained national attention last year when Justin Timberlake sparked debate over a little-known state law after he shared a selfie on Instagram that showed him casting his ballot at a church in Germantown, near Memphis. Timberlake, who lives in California but recently bought property near Nashville, said he had no idea he was doing anything illegal. Other celebrities like Taylor Swift took selfies in or around their polling places.

Kelsey said he brought up the bill after the Timberlake incident.

The Senate bill is sponsored by Sen. Brian Kelsey, a Germantown Republican, and the House sponsor is Rep. Karen Camper, D-Memphis.

Kelsey cited a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down a New Hampshire law related to the issue.

Jake Lowary covers Tennessee politics and state government for the USA TODAY NETWORK. Reach him at 931-237-1583 or follow him on Twitter @JakeLowary.