Free speech dispute at rollout of voting machines (Bucks Co., PA)

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/bucks_county/13365868.htm

Fri, Dec. 09, 2005

A dispute at rollout of voting machines

A judge agreed that a group wanting to spread flyers on a different scanner system had no place at a demonstration.
By Dana Reddington
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer


A demonstration of new voting machines turned into a forum on free speech yesterday, landing a citizens' group and the Bucks County commissioners in court.

The county prevailed.

Members of the Coalition for Voting Integrity said that as they entered the courthouse in Doylestown Borough for the start of the 8:30 a.m. exhibit, security officials confiscated their flyers endorsing paper ballots that are read by optical scanners. The county also denied their request to set up a model of that system, said Mary Ann Gould, a cofounder of the group.

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At an afternoon hearing, attorney Lawrence M. Otter told Judge Albert J. Cepparulo that the group wanted permission for one member to hand out its flyers near the exhibit.

"Their First Amendment rights were trampled on because they were barred from coming into the courthouse with this," Otter said.

But county solicitor Guy Matthews said some members of the group were "disruptive" as people tried to fill out questionnaires after trying the machines.

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and the cornerstone of true democracy.

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