Don Wright General Counsel NC State Board of Elections August 2014

From a New Jersey Supreme Court Ruling, 9/30/2009 “The area surrounding a polling place constitutes a nonpublic forum, and thus, a statute restricting expressive activity within that area need only be reasonable and viewpoint-neutral to satisfy the First Amendment right of political speech. Such statutes were adopted to ensure a minimal level of order and decorum and to reduce the potential for fraud, coercion, and confusion outside polling precincts on Election Day. The broad language of these election laws demonstrates that State Legislatures never intended in the last part of the path leading to the polling place for a voter to have to walk, or run, by a gauntlet of hawkers, hustlers, protesters, pollsters shouting questions, or even voting- rights advocates handing out cards.”

The United States Supreme Court’s decision in Burson v. Freeman (1992) concluded that to a reasonable extent, a state may: “regulate conduct in and around the polls in order to maintain peace, order and decorum there.” 504 U.S. at 193, 112 S. Ct. at 1848, 119 L. Ed. 2d at 11 (plurality opinion)

State “buffer zone” laws must be reasonable as to time, place, and manner restrictions under the First Amendment protection of political speech. These buffer zone laws are intended to secure and enhance another vital constitutional right—the right to vote. In the Burson case, Justice Blackmun surveyed the historical record of election improprieties surrounding polling precincts. Blackmun observed that “all 50 States, together with numerous other Western democracies, settled on the same solution: a secret ballot which is secured in part by a restricted zone around the voting compartments.”

VOICE VOTING OPEN VOTING WITH SELF PROVIDED BALLOT

VictoriaVictoria and South Australia in Australia were the first states to introduce secrecy of the ballot (1856), and for that reason the secret ballot is referred to as the Australian ballot. In Great Britain, the secret ballot was introduced for all parliamentary and municipal elections by the Ballot Act of In the United States, the Australian ballot system was extensively adopted after the presidential election of It was in 1929 that N.C. mandated the Australian Ballot in the General Statutes.South AustraliaballotBritainBallot ActUnited Stateselection

 Campaign workers block passageways to the polling locations right outside the start of buffer zones.  Mobility impaired voters suffer disproportionally from such pathway blockage.  Curbside voters outside the buffer zone are swarmed.  Unwelcomed touching and unruly conduct occur.  Volume and content of communications made to voters by campaign workers is disturbing.

 Place curbside voting location within buffer zone whenever possible.  Have precinct workers monitor the zone.  Discuss concerns with campaign workers.  Discuss concerns with candidates and political parties.  Media coverage will often expose issues.  Encourage voters to voice their complaints to the candidates or parties creating disruptions.  Assert your authority under GS and GS

1. The media memo of April 2008, which was formulated with input for the NC Association of Broadcasters, is still current policy. 2. Remember that photos are limited. GS Press access is equal to public access. Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665 (1972). 4. Post Gazette Pub. Co. v Aichele, 705 F3d 91 ( 3d Circuit 2013) 5. All of the foregoing applies to exit polls as well.

Precinct judges will:  enforce “peace and good order” in and about the place of voting;  prevent and stop attempts “to obstruct, intimidate or interfere” with any person voting; and  prevent “riots, violence, tumult, or disorder.”

Precinct judges  may call upon law enforcement to aid in keeping peace and good order.  may order arrest for violation of statute [Note: No arrest shall be ordered unless the precinct judge has witnessed a violation, and, having warned the violator, sees a subsequent intentional violation. An unlawful arrest under this statute may create legal liability.]  may deputize persons as law enforcement to aid peace and good order

 GS (4)  For any person to be guilty of any boisterous conduct so as to disturb any member of any election board or any chief judge or judge of election in the performance of his duties as imposed by law; (Misdemeanor)  GS (10)  For any person to assault any chief judge, judge of election or other election officer while in the discharge of his duty in the registration of voters or in conducting any primary or election; (Felony)

 GS (11)  For any person, by threats, menaces or in any other manner, to intimidate or attempt to intimidate any chief judge, judge of election or other election officer in the discharge of his duties in the registration of voters or in conducting any primary or election; (Felony)

These laws as to good order, peace, and protection of precinct workers apply equally to observers engaged in misconduct inside the polling place.