OHIO Suit targets exit-polling restriction

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Six national news organizations sued Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell on Monday over a policy that would prevent exit polling within 100 feet of a voting place. Five television networks -- ABC, CNN, CBS, Fox News and NBC -- and The Associated Press filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, seeking additional access at the polls today. The organizations have formed a consortium to collect exit-polling data in Ohio and other states. The news organizations said the prohibition hinders their ability to gather information about the political process and violates constitutional guarantees of free speech. In a separate action, the Akron Beacon Journal asked a federal judge to block any attempt by Blackwell or the Summit County Board of Elections to enforce the policy. Judge Paul Matia ruled Monday against the newspaper, which will appeal the order. The networks and the AP said exit-poll reporters were allowed to conduct interviews within 100 feet of polls as recently as the March primary. According to the suit, Blackwell told county boards in February that since state law does not specifically regulate exit-polling, "in keeping with Ohio's past practices, exit pollsters should not be disturbed solely because they are conducting exit polling within the 100-foot-boundary." Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said Monday that in February, press interest in the Ohio election was much less.