News Organizations Win Ruling Against NJ Exit Poll Ban

The National Election Pool — a consortium that includes The Associated Press, CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS — has just won a ruling in New Jersey against an attempted exit poll ban.

The Judge ruled late Friday in favor of the NEP and granted its motion for a preliminary injunction, allowing the networks to continue to conduct exit polling within 100 feet of the polling place.

"We are extremely pleased with Judge Sheridan's decision today affirming our clients' First Amendment right to conduct exit polling within 100 feet of polling places in the State of New Jersey," said Susan Buckley, the Attorney for the National Election Pool. "By permitting these important newsgathering activities to continue, Judge Sheridan has ensured that the public will continue to receive the timely and valuable information gathered from exit polls."

A NJ State Supreme Court ruling last month barred exit polling and all "expressive activity" within 100 feet of a polling place.

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Comments

[Photofarm]

This is just wrong, and people should tell anyone conducting an exit poll they voted for Mickey Mouse, because they love cartoons.

[truthglow]

Fortunately for NJ, the Democrats are winning again. Thank God, Bush/Rove/­Cheney/Mor­bidly Obese Chris Christy will not be winning this year. Chris Daggett will be taking away enough votes to do the job. This will save us from the past 8 years of a Republican Hell, like we experienced with the "Worst President Ever," and the after-effects which have been felt in every state in the Union, including NJ!!!!!!

[VOTER]

VOTE!

I wouldn't tell a reporter how I voted unless the reporter told me how he/she voted too.

[Amazone]

hmm.....I agree.....
I will try to remember that next time...I will do it, just for the fun of looking at the reporter "long" face

[FHTB]

I don't think we need "exit polls"...t­hey create this inevitability that sometimes ends up being, of course, wrong...we have seen it time and time again...th­e exit polls showed Gore ahead in 2000...Ker­ry in 2004, to name two instances where their reliability was sadly and pathetically not helpful.

[KIVPossum]

I was approached one time and told the guy what he could do with his pet goat. PETA was not happy with the suggestion.

[ImissBush]

now if they can ban those people frm voting
completely
:-P

[truthglow]

Go back to Red State.

[Amazone]

what you miss exactly about Bush?....h­is lack of the English language? his lack of intelligence? his ignorant arrogance?­......tell me

[truthglow]

Exactly as you demonstrate in YOUR comment!

[dadw5boys]

If exit polls are off more than 9 % then you have problems with the vote.

[KayoFrisco]

Exit polls are quite accurate and usually within 2 percentage points of the final count. Many are within 1 percentage point. If there are wide disparities, then it could either be a major sampling error, ballot tampering or other types of fraud.

As long as the results are not released until the polls close I have no problem with them.

[dadw5boys]

this progam has never been found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEzY2tnwExs&feature=related

[Imzadi]

Well, good. Exit polls harm no one.

[kareemachan]

No, I beg to differ. Living on this side (Pacific) of the continent, I can clearly remember times when people decided to not bother voting after exit polls were done on the East coast and projections were made for election outcomes.

[Imzadi]

If I recall, the latest statutes were that poll results could not be released until the entire US had voted in National elections.

In local elections, the exit polls are released when the polls close.

[JBCinSD]

And if they decide not to vote, isn't that their own failing, not the fault of polls?

[sense oar sheep]

as long as there isn't voter intimidation or other irregularities, then let voluntary exit polling continue

[raker]

Let exit polling remain legal. Start a campaign to have people refuse to participate in exit polls. Make it socially unacceptable, like littering or smoking.

[justins79]

Why? Are you afraid of statistical analysis that provides proof of election fraud? Would you feel better if they gave you a piece of candy after you participated in the poll?

[dadw5boys]

Lol Republicans would have people walking around saying the voted GOP. lol