News groups challenge Ohio's revised exit polling directive

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-1/1161707086173850.xml&storylist=cleveland

10/24/2006, 5:45 p.m. ET
By JULIE CARR SMYTH
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's new guidelines on conducting exit polls on Election Day, written after a judge threw out the old rules, are vague and confusing and should be rejected, a coalition of national news organizations argues in a lawsuit.

In the suit, television networks ABC, CNN, CBS, Fox News and NBC and The Associated Press ask U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson to spell out the rules for county election boards in his own words and force Secretary of State Ken Blackwell to post them so the plaintiffs can interview voters leaving polling places on Nov. 7.

The judge last month had ordered the state to produce a new directive when he struck down Blackwell's 2004 order against exit polling within 100 feet of a voting place. Watson granted a temporary order suspending the 2004 order, allowing exit polling that year.

The lawsuit filed Monday says Blackwell's latest guidelines, issued Oct. 13, begin by stating that loitering and delaying voters are prohibited and only later say that the judge specifically allowed exit polling...

[Lasher]

1. If I were planning to rig an election...

I wouldn't want any of those pesky exit polls conducted.

[TexasLawyer]

2. Ken Blackwell

doesn't want people to have direct evidence that he stole the governorship.

[AndyTiedye]

3. With No Exit Polls, Blackwell Shifted 30% of the Entire Statewide Vote Last Year

The reform initiatives were polling to win by a landslide: almost 2-1.
They "lost" by almost 2-1.

[Kurovski]

4. K&R(nt)

[trof]

5. What a coincidence! Same in Florida.

MIAMI - A Florida law that bars exit polling near voting places violates the press' rights under the First Amendment, a lawsuit filed by The Associated Press and five television networks alleges.

The lawsuits filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Miami and today in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas contend that state laws that prohibit asking a voter a "fact" or "opinion" within 100 feet of a polling place is unconstitutional.

"We're asking the court to ensure they can talk to voters in Florida on Election Day within a reasonable distance from polling places," said Susan Buckley, the attorney representing the news organizations. While the lawsuit is pending, Buckley says the group also wants an injunction preventing enforcement of the laws during the upcoming elections.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15226960/

Coincidence my ass.
Cloak of secrecy.

[cosmicdot]

6. that US District Judge Watson was mal-appointed by Bu$h**

appointed in April 2004

fyi

let's see what he does