Feedback: Media Ban At Polling Places?

It’s a sign of election day: images of voters hitting the polls and casting their votes.

But, this year in Jefferson County, you may not be seeing those images on your television screen.

The Republican elections commissioner is trying to keep the media out of polling places.

But nothing is final, and not everyone is on board.

Jefferson County Republican Elections Commissioner Jerry Eaton told 7 News the media will not be allowed in polling places this November 4.

But the county’s Democratic Commissioner Sean Hennessey is saying not so fast.

Hennessey would like to allow the media in, and now the two are planning to hash it out with lawyers from both parties.

There’s a growing movement to keep the voting process in Jefferson County open.

“I do support seeing the voting in action and I do support open and accountable government and transparency,” said Republican District 13 Legislator Scott Gray.

Why keep the media out?

Jerry Eaton says people with disabilities using voting machines might not want to be photographed.

That’s one way to look at it.

“I do not agree with that. I think it’s important that people with disabilities vote and are shown to be voting and participating in the system,” said Bill Cripp of the Northern Regional Center for Independent Living

Eaton has also argued some poll workers say the media can be disruptive.

But Sean Hennessey says he hasn’t seen any documentation of those complaints.

He says he’s hoping for a compromise.

“I seem to believe that we do need to give some access to the media to the poll sites on election day just to really act as a public service announcement - letting people know there’s an election taking place,” said Hennessey.

There is no law that allows the media access, but there’s no law that keeps them out either.

County Legislator Scott Gray says if the media ban moves forward, he, and possibly other legislators, will put pressure on the board of elections to provide access.

Read our earlier report

See Jessica Cain’s report:

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