AP, CNN and others fight S.D. exit-polling law

A coalition of national news organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court in Sioux Falls on Monday over a South Dakota law that prevents exit polling within 100 feet of a voting place.

The Associated Press, along with CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC and CBS contend in the lawsuit that such polling within 100 feet of South Dakota voting locations has been conducted during previous elections.

But according to AP, state Secretary of State Chris Nelson sent out an April 2 e-mail warning that violations of the law “will be dealt with by all legal means including prosecution.

With South Dakota’s primary election just three weeks away, the lawsuit asks the judge to issue a preliminary ruling before the June 3 primary.