The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has filed a lawsuit challenging Allegheny County's intention to prevent photography around polling places.

Because county election workers in the past have tried to prevent news photographers from photographing in the direction of voting machines, PG Publishing, parent company of the Post-Gazette, sought to clarify the county's position last month.

Officials responded that "Allegheny County's policy is to prohibit photographs, video taping and any other type of recording inside the polling place. That prohibition extends to attempts to record activity in the polling place from outside of the polling place, for example, through an open door or window."

Citing the First Amendment, PG Publishing filed suit yesterday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court challenging the portion of the policy that prohibits photographing activities visible from public places.

Common Pleas President Judge Joseph M. James will hear the case Monday morning. The Post-Gazette seeks a temporary injunction to prevent the county from blocking photographers who are in public places from photographing activity in and around polling places, as well as permanent relief in the case.