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Independent reporters may have a tough go of it covering precincts for the 2008 Presidential and General Election in Ohio. Consider the following:
There was an announcement made at the 2008 Ohio Secretary of State's Summer Conference held June 23 - 25, 2008 to the effect that Ohio already has exit polling arrangements for the November 2008 Presidential and General Election with the exit polling company, Edison - Mitofsky. Edison - Mitofsky's website is intriguing because it lists the names of the "credentialed" media who they provide services to:
http://www.exit-poll.net/
Not only do independent reporters have to deal with the inner circle of the "credentialed" press of the "professional" exit poll company, but those independents are facing new stepped - up obstacles . Here are some Ohio Secretary of State Directives and Advisories that are striving to be "press friendly yet legally compliant:"
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/directives/2008/Dir2008-29.pdf
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Upload/elections/advisories/2008/Adv2008-03.pdf
I don't think it would be overkill for independent reporters who plan on reporting from precincts for them to start thinking about professional preparations for bail and money for selecting a family attorney or getting set with election attorneys sponsored by civil rights organizations.
