PITTSBURGH—A federal judge has dismissed a western Pennsylvania
newspaper's lawsuit seeking access to Allegheny County polling
places for reporters, photographers and video camera operators
to monitor the sign-in process.  U.S. District Judge Nora Barry
Fischer agreed with state officials that the rules on access to
polling places did not infringe on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's
right to gather news.  She said in a 58-page opinion that no
"federal court oversight" of how election officials are
discharging their duties was required.  The newspaper said a
state law keeping anyone other than voters and election
officials 10 feet from polling places prevented it from
monitoring the sign-in process.  But the judge said the law
"'does not target or single out' newspaper reporters for
disfavored treatment" and therefore doesn't infringe on free
speech rights.