Judge Questions Fla. Exit Poll Limit

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-elect/2006/oct/20/102000172.html

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge raised strong doubts Friday about the constitutionality of a Florida law banning exit polls within 100 feet of a voting place, a restriction being challenged by The Associated Press and five television networks.

U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck said he was leaning toward ruling in favor of the news media in a written order to be issued next week, in time for exit polling to be done during the Nov. 7 election. Huck said he could find no evidence that exit polling had hindered the right to vote.

"I'm convinced there hasn't been any disruption of the voting process by exit polling," Huck said. "It seems to me that we should come up with some rules that everybody can live with."

At issue is a 2005 Florida law that set a 100-foot limit around every polling place where a number of activities are banned, including polling, solicitation, distribution of campaign material, selling goods or seeking contributions.

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[Vickers]

1. Hinders the right to vote? Do they realize it's an EXIT poll?

They've already voted. :eyes:

[rock]

2. "activities banned including ..."

But pedophilia isn't on the list. Good news for RepubliCONs.

[Imagevision]

3. with no paper verification, exit polling is all we have!

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Which is exactly why the Repugs want it banned

It would not do AT ALL for exit polls to prove that, yet again, the Junta has stolen the election. Therefore, exit polls must be criminalized. If that doesn't work, pollsters and those who answer any exit poll shall be deemed "enemy combattants" and treated to the full hospitality of the law.

[JohnWxy]

5. Repubs were pissed that exit polls showed the 2000 results were

very questionable in some areas (esp. Ohio and good ol' Florida). Plus if they are going to subvert democracy using electronic voting machines you can't have exit polls tipping people off that something is wrong with the election results.

Can't have a anti-democratic, totalitarian state with informed citizens.

suppress the vote, suppress information, control the media (have your own media: Katy Kourick) control information, create and desseminate disinformation - ah, Goebbels would be proud.

RECOMMENDED.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. The only disruption is with the Republican's ability to steal an election

without raising questions.