A judge today ordered Allegheny County sheriff's deputies to crack down on fake endorsement slate cards being passed to voters at a Mt. Washington polling place.

Jim Burn, the county's Democratic Party chairman, filed a complaint this morning before Common Pleas Judge Cathleen Bubash.

At least one person had been passing out a look-alike slate card in support of Georgia Blotzer for City Council.

The card claimed that the "Real Democrats" this year had endorsed Ms. Blotzer for Council. Actually, the party committee endorsed incumbent Theresa Smith.

Judge Bubash issued an order directing sheriff's deputies to seize any of the fake slate cards from anyone who was distributing them.

Violators of the order would face contempt of court charges.

The slate card issue was a twist on an incident that occurred recently in the campaign. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette objected to a campaign flier for Ms. Smith that gave the impression the newspaper endorsed her. The Post-Gazette endorsed Ms. Blotzer.

Today's primary election was reportedly drawing low turnouts at polling places, as election officials had predicted.

Also today, Squirrel Hill attorney Kevin Acklin announced he had filed nominating petitions to get on the November ballot for mayor of Pittsburgh.