To the Greene County Registrar:

Attention:Virginia Fitzhugh. November 17, 2000

"I wish to make a formal complaint regarding the action of a Ruckersville precinct election official on November 7 during the voting hours. I went at 9:15 AM to that precinct to assist the Democrat persons handing out brochures and voting information and I took a hand made styrofoam 2' x 3' bulletin board with newspaper and magazine clippings attached. I propped the bulletin board up outside of the fence where the candidates' signs were prominently displayed. As the voting lines became light at about 10:30 I went to Hollymead to vote and bring back some lunch. When I returned at about 11:30 I found my board propped up at the building turned face away from viewers. The explanation I got was that someone complained to the election official inside about the display they did not like. An election official came out and told the Democrat worker (probably Eric Seaborg) that displaying NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS WAS ILLEGAL! And the bulletin board could not stay. When I returned I loudly protested that newspaper clippings were legal and the election official's verdict was wrong. I put the board in the open end of my station wagon across the road where it was difficult for anyone to see.

This Email shall be considered as a formal complaint against election officials issuing illegal dictums, especially when they are not acting according to state law. If the election official does not KNOW FOR SURE, he, or she, should check with the county registrar for guidance. Officials are needed who have the intelligence to ascertain that if political brochures are allowed then a published news item could not be prohibited. Also the election officials do not have control of the area OUTSIDE THE RESTRICTED AREA where workers are handing out political brochures without restricting voters' entrance.

I am particularly interested that voters be informed about the issues of all candidates and consider the action taken at Ruckersville on November 7 to be a denial of freedom of speech" (Benita 'Bonnie' Drumm, electronic mail, Barboursville, VA 22923).

"Bonnie:

I talked this morning to my Head Election Official at the Ruckersville
voting precinct and she told me that no one came inside the polling place
and complained to her.

I feel certain that someone outside the polling place made the decision and they probably did not have the official authoriity to do so. Sorry this
happened, but you should have notified an election official or me about the incident. I will put a copy of this letter in my files for the 11/7/2000
election.

Virginia Fitzhugh, Greene County" (Virginia Fitzhugh, Registrar, Green County, Virginia, November 17, 2000, email).