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Exit poll workers prompt phone calls |
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — Auglaize County Board of Elections officials Tuesday received several phone calls regarding the actions of a group of pollsters conducting exit surveys of voters in St. Marys.
Local representatives with Project Vote Count set up an exit poll table outside of the union hall in the city as part of the primary election. According to its Web site, Project Vote Count is a non-partisan organization that conducts exit polls to ensure accuracy in the election process.
“I have had a few calls and one complaint,” Auglaize County Board of Elections Director Carolyn Campbell told The Evening Leader, noting one caller claimed members from the group said their vote would not count unless they participated in the poll. “I have a rover over there assessing the situation and I do have the sheriff’s office going over to see if they are harassing voters. If they are, we will have to ask them to leave.”
According to a statewide advisor issued by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, exiting polling is allowed near a voting site. However, exist pollster are prohibited from conducting polls within an election site.
Local Project Vote Count representatives Bob McCune and John Monahan manned the exit poll in St. Marys. McCune said the two asked voters to participate in the poll as a way to protect the democratic process.
“We ask people to volunteer to have them tell us who they voted for,” McCune said. “There were some people who didn’t want to put their name down — but it’s an affidavit in case there’s a discrepancy and it goes to court.”
Monahan said the group is not linked to any of the presidential candidates running this year. Instead, Monahan said the group’s aim is to make sure vote tallies are accurate.
“It’s a new Web site,” Monahan said, noting approximately 20 other groups around the states conducted exit polls Tuesday. “We found it online and thought it would be a good idea. (We’re here) to protect the vote.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 10 March 2008 )
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