Judge blocks Minn. law that hampers exit polling

Polling Place
Turnout is expected to be high next month when voters head to the polls.
MPR photo/Tom Weber

(AP) - A federal judge has granted a request from The Associated Press and other media groups to block a Minnesota law that would have kept exit pollsters far away from the polls on Election Day.

U.S. District Judge Michael Davis says in an order Wednesday that several major news organizations must be allowed to conduct exit polling, as long as it doesn't interfere with voters going to and from their polling places.

He says the secretary of state shall advise all county auditors that exit polling is permitted.

The AP and the major television news networks sued Minnesota over a new state law against loitering within 100 feet of polling places.

They say that it would have made it virtually impossible for them do exit poll interviews with voters.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)