Just wondering

Why is it illegal for someone to campaign just outside of a polling place, where they might (heaven forbid) influence voting, but it's not illegal to broadcast dubious "exit polling" figures before the polls even close? Does anybody really believe these "early return guestimates" can't influence someone's decision whether to fight after-work traffic to go cast a ballot?

I've long been of the opinion that on the day of polling there should be an election coverage blackout until the various precincts report 100% of their returns, in ALL time zones. Anything else merely minimizes and suppresses the impact of those who potentially vote last.

Just a thought.

Then again, the overt machinations already evident this season have convinced me the electoral process is merely a giant kabuki dance to convince voters to think they had a voice in selecting the establishment candidates. After all, as Stalin once said, it's not the voter who has the power. It's the one who counts the votes.