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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 5, 2013 01:35 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Judith L. Schwank |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Media in polling places |
| I will shortly introduce legislation opening Pennsylvania elections to more effective witness and reporting by the media. The U.S. Supreme Court this week refused an appeal from a ruling that upholds a Pennsylvania limitation on the persons allowed in or within 10 feet of a polling place. A similar challenge in a different federal appeals court previously resulted in Ohio news media being allowed inside polling places. Americans universally have been energized in recent years by images of elections in newly democratized nations, and although our we enjoy more mature and stable election processes, vigilant concern for election conduct remains a continuing refrain across political parties and beliefs. I believe properly regulated and expanded transparency is an important step that would not only shed light to confirm or dispell concerns, it also could increase voter interest and participation in such a media-conscious culture as ours. It is not enough to permit election processes to be witnessed only from at least 10 feet away when the only view might be through a door into a room with restricted lines of sight. My legislation will permit credentialed media to enter and remain in a polling place in a manner that does not disrupt the voting process. I hope you will consider joining in this legislation. |
Introduced as SB1178