Avoid ‘‘sharing’’ red card,

The Electoral Commission is urging social media users to be careful tomorrow – election day – after political posts landed three highprofile sportsmen in hot water in 2014.

Olympic rowing gold medallist Eric Murray, and All Blacks Israel Dagg and the late Jonah Lomu had tweets posted last election day referred to police.

The sporting trio all pledged support to National, despite electoral law banning publication of anything that could potentially influence voters on voting day.

However, police have revealed there have been no prosecutions for this type of offending - which carries a maximum fine of up to $20,000 – since at least 2008.

‘‘Where the person can be identified, they would be warned and the opportunity would be taken to educate them,’’ a police spokeswoman said.

The sportsmen’s posts were among seven incidents in which people either published material showing how they voted, or posted statements that could influence voters.

‘‘The election day rules make no exemption for the expression of personal political views online,’’ an Electoral Commission spokeswoman said.

‘‘It is fine to remind people to get out to vote or that you’ve just voted. However, care should be taken not to post anything that encourages voters to vote, or not to vote for a particular party.’’

Social media restrictions are in place from midnight tonight until voting places close at 7pm tomorrow.

Snapping a selfie at a voting place was also not permitted.

The rule was aimed at protecting voters’ rights to privacy.