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Should churches in America be used as polling places...

Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
...for public elections?

This is a common practice in Red states but not in California.

I think this is a Republican Christian Right strategy.

Does this practice violate the First Amendment?

Personally, I don't think any private property is appropriate for usage as polls.

Public elections belong in public places as public schools, police stations, fire stations, state college campuses, etc.

I like polling places to be on college campus especially because young American students and older students too can be exposed directly to the political process and might be more likely to vote if it is convenient to get to the polls.

I don't think Jesus Christ would like secular matters as politics in His Father's temple. We all know the money-changer/house of thieves story in the bible.
 

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
In the UK church halls are commonly used as polling stations

But never the actual worship space of the church

This way politics don't actually go on within the temple itself
 

David1967

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Absolutely not. I hate to go into a church and hear politics discussed from the pulpit.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Let's think about a few things here.

Election days are typically on a weekday. In the United States, we don't declare a national holiday for election days. This means all the usual day-to-day activities are still going on. It sounds great to suggest using public schools and college campuses until you realize that they aren't ceasing their operations on election day. And essential services like fire and police never cease their operations even on holidays, plus they tend to be spread too thin to accommodate voting populations anyway.

What you are asking for would demand infrastructure to be created specifically for polling. Churches - which are found widely spaced throughout a city and have spaces that are generally not in use during weekdays - provide an ideal venue for polling without spending millions upon millions of dollars. Ideally, yes, these things wouldn't be hosted in churches. The realities of budget demand otherwise.

As a heads up, many states allow early voting. I work at a university, and here we set up polling booths specifically to increase voter turnout for young people. So these things do happen, but as it stands, they must be in conjunction with using church spaces.
 

dianaiad

Well-Known Member
...for public elections?

This is a common practice in Red states but not in California.

I've been voting at a local community church for years. I'm in California. Works fine.

I think this is a Republican Christian Right strategy.

I doubt it. This is a very liberal church, with a gay pastor. They don't put Democratic signs in their landscaping, but I see the congregation at all the Democratic political rallies.

Does this practice violate the First Amendment?

No more than it does when my HOUSE was a polling place.

Personally, I don't think any private property is appropriate for usage as polls.

Dunno why; all poll workers are volunteers and are strictly forbidden from any partisan activity.

Public elections belong in public places as public schools, police stations, fire stations, state college campuses, etc.

Why?

I like polling places to be on college campus especially because young American students and older students too can be exposed directly to the political process and might be more likely to vote if it is convenient to get to the polls.

pfffft. Most of us vote by mail now anyway. The LAST place I would like a polling place is on a college campus; those people simply can't keep their mouths shut and their attitudes civil. They wouldn't be able to NOT be obviously politically partisan left.

They can't keep their opinions to themselves on election day. Shoot, most of 'em don't even try.

I don't think Jesus Christ would like secular matters as politics in His Father's temple. We all know the money-changer/house of thieves story in the bible.

Well, with all due respect, most meeting houses are not Temples. In fact, the people running/worshiping in them would be rather unhappy with someone calling them temples.

Nah....if a meeting house can be used to have a wedding or a reception or a barbeque fund raiser or a coffee hour or bingo, it's certainly OK to make it a polling place, seems to me.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
...for public elections?

This is a common practice in Red states but not in California.

I think this is a Republican Christian Right strategy.

Does this practice violate the First Amendment?

Personally, I don't think any private property is appropriate for usage as polls.

Public elections belong in public places as public schools, police stations, fire stations, state college campuses, etc.

I like polling places to be on college campus especially because young American students and older students too can be exposed directly to the political process and might be more likely to vote if it is convenient to get to the polls.

I don't think Jesus Christ would like secular matters as politics in His Father's temple. We all know the money-changer/house of thieves story in the bible.
I don't see any issue with it. Some churches have large community centers and gymnasiums that would suffice nicely.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
This is a common practice in Red states but not in California. I think this is a Republican Christian Right strategy.

Probably to scare the non-whites and liberals off.

Does this practice violate the First Amendment?

I don't know. But if I find out that it is, I'll let you know.

I don't think Jesus Christ would like secular matters as politics in His Father's temple. We all know the money-changer/house of thieves story in the bible.

I'll give you $50.00 to take a whip to the poll workers next election day.
 

dianaiad

Well-Known Member
Absolutely not. I hate to go into a church and hear politics discussed from the pulpit.

That's not a good thing. Of course, in the USA, if a church gets all political from the pulpit, it can lose its non-profit tax benefits.

Mind you, that takes some doing and only lasts a year, but it can still sting.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
Baloney. There are as many 'black' churches as polling places as not. Don't go pulling the race card on this one, and don't make really stupid assumptions.

Look, sister: I'm a white, heterosexual, male citizen of the United State of America. I'll pull any dang card I want any time I want any where I want And I'll make as many really stupid assumptions as I want, too. Why should you be the only one who gets to? :p
 

dianaiad

Well-Known Member
Look, sister: I'm a white, heterosexual, male citizen of the United State of America. I'll pull any dang card I want any time I want any where I want And I'll make as many really stupid assumptions as I want, too. Why should you be the only one who gets to. :p

I'm a very white (only vampires sunburn faster than me) heterosexual female citizen of the United States of America, married to a man who was everything ELSE.

So I can point out silly assumptions when I see them. So go ahead and make 'em. :cool: Of such things are debate forum posts made!:D
 

PureX

Veteran Member
...for public elections?

This is a common practice in Red states but not in California.

I think this is a Republican Christian Right strategy.

Does this practice violate the First Amendment?

Personally, I don't think any private property is appropriate for usage as polls.

Public elections belong in public places as public schools, police stations, fire stations, state college campuses, etc.

I like polling places to be on college campus especially because young American students and older students too can be exposed directly to the political process and might be more likely to vote if it is convenient to get to the polls.

I don't think Jesus Christ would like secular matters as politics in His Father's temple. We all know the money-changer/house of thieves story in the bible.
I don't think it's a problem as long as the church is not controlling the process in any way.

I vote at a clown school.
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
Let's think about a few things here.

Election days are typically on a weekday. In the United States, we don't declare a national holiday for election days. This means all the usual day-to-day activities are still going on. It sounds great to suggest using public schools and college campuses until you realize that they aren't ceasing their operations on election day. And essential services like fire and police never cease their operations even on holidays, plus they tend to be spread too thin to accommodate voting populations anyway.

What you are asking for would demand infrastructure to be created specifically for polling. Churches - which are found widely spaced throughout a city and have spaces that are generally not in use during weekdays - provide an ideal venue for polling without spending millions upon millions of dollars. Ideally, yes, these things wouldn't be hosted in churches. The realities of budget demand otherwise.

As a heads up, many states allow early voting. I work at a university, and here we set up polling booths specifically to increase voter turnout for young people. So these things do happen, but as it stands, they must be in conjunction with using church spaces.

Is there any rationale behind doing it on weekdays rather than on weekends ?
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
...for public elections?

This is a common practice in Red states but not in California.

I think this is a Republican Christian Right strategy.

Does this practice violate the First Amendment?

Personally, I don't think any private property is appropriate for usage as polls.

Public elections belong in public places as public schools, police stations, fire stations, state college campuses, etc.

I like polling places to be on college campus especially because young American students and older students too can be exposed directly to the political process and might be more likely to vote if it is convenient to get to the polls.

I don't think Jesus Christ would like secular matters as politics in His Father's temple. We all know the money-changer/house of thieves story in the bible.

Oh God, not college campuses, a cesspool of liberalism. :p

Kidding, most polling places are very strict about any kind of political influence being anywhere in the vicinity of the polling place. As long as the legal requirements are enforced I don't see a problem using churches or college campuses as a polling place.
 

David1967

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Look, sister: I'm a white, heterosexual, male citizen of the United State of America. I'll pull any dang card I want any time I want any where I want And I'll make as many really stupid assumptions as I want, too. Why should you be the only one who gets to? :p

You forgot to tell her to get off your lawn.:D
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Is there any rationale behind doing it on weekdays rather than on weekends ?

I don't know.

How voting is done in my country needs an overhaul in general. Moving to weekends really isn't the solution to the problem. Low-income earners often are folks who have to work on weekends. Short of making voting day a paid holiday for everybody, there just needs to be more early voting options. Unfortunately, this is decided on a state-by-state basis and sometimes becomes a partisan issue because forcing everybody to vote on one day is a way of disenfranchising certain voting blocks.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
...for public elections?

This is a common practice in Red states but not in California.

I think this is a Republican Christian Right strategy.

Does this practice violate the First Amendment?

Personally, I don't think any private property is appropriate for usage as polls.

Public elections belong in public places as public schools, police stations, fire stations, state college campuses, etc.

I like polling places to be on college campus especially because young American students and older students too can be exposed directly to the political process and might be more likely to vote if it is convenient to get to the polls.

I don't think Jesus Christ would like secular matters as politics in His Father's temple. We all know the money-changer/house of thieves story in the bible.

Oh good grief everything has to be some freaking
conspiracy.

Notice BTW how your "on campus" is a leftist strategy?

Honestly, people in America!!
 

dianaiad

Well-Known Member
Oh God, not college campuses, a cesspool of liberalism. :p

Kidding, most polling places are very strict about any kind of political influence being anywhere in the vicinity of the polling place. As long as the legal requirements are enforced I don't see a problem using churches or college campuses as a polling place.

(grin)

If the students and faculty could restrain themselves, I don't see a problem either.

But, er, that's the problem. ;)

Don't get me wrong; I am a life long university student, AND a teacher. I can't shut up either.
 
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