My polling place is in a church

[redqueen]

I've always voted in schools, before. Is this common, to have them in a church? It's really bugging me.

[judge_smales]

1. Mine has been for years.

Works OK.

[Skittles]

2. yeah, I've voted in churches before

old ladies with tables of treats *slobber*

[YellowRubberDuckie]

24. I will give the elder ladies of churches a few things:

They are the sweetest people and the make the best baked goods. I vote in a church too...But I think we should really start challenging this.
Duckie

[Skittles]

31. OMG, I stuffed my face with homemade pie

*SLOBBER*

religion very often annoys me but I had no problem voting in a church - it was in a foyer-like area, no one preached to me or anything.

[flamingyouth]

3. I voted for years in various churches

Never, ever had a problem. The county leases part of the basement from them; that's all.

[redqueen]

4. This is a relief

Nice to know it's not just here.

on edit: I'd still rather do it in the gymnasium.

[bullimiami]

5. mine used to be

never had a problem. always seemed organized and non political.

[wishlist]

6. Mine is a church too, because it is only handicapped accessible place

Mine has always been a community center in the neighborhood, but the new voting rules in effect this year specify that people using wheelchairs must have same access to main entrance that other voters use and the community center has too many steps and handicap access is too roundabout plus limited parking The only suitable place is a large church built more recently that does not have any steps and has plenty of parking too. At least it is not a fundamentalist or Baptist Church!

[Richardo]

7. Mine is too.

Not just in Texas, either. The church here stays apolitical, but when I lived in Colorado my polling pace was a church, too...complete with "Choose Life" posters.... :eyes:

[madrchsod]

8. mine is in a old folks retirement complex

where people "kin`a" help people vote.it`s kind of sad,hell someday someone may have to help me....

[skygazer]

9. Wow

I'd be afraid of being struck by lightning walking in!

[huskerlaw]

10. Yeah, mine is too

I always thought that was kinda weird, but I guess it's ok.

[redqueen]

12. It's been years since I set foot in a Baptist church

It'll be hard, but I think I can manage.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[huskerlaw]

14. Thanks!

I love it here! :bounce:

[plcdude]

11. mine is

too.

[redqueen]

37. You should go here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1902386

:hi:

[Bertha Venation]

13. very common

It is extremely difficult to find venues for polling places. My sister used to do it for a living and she tore her hair out. (People would commit to letting the county use their garages and renege two weeks before the election...)

Mine's in a church too. Except that I voted absentee yesterday.

[redqueen]

16. Hey there!

Nice to see you around again. Are you going to change your avatar?


I guess I've just been lucky thus far about not having to go into a church.

[Bertha Venation]

17. hola, redqueen... thanks.

Not gonna change my av. because I like my Angels O8) cap. I guess I'll just try to remember to sign each post:

I HAVE VOTED

[YellowRubberDuckie]

25. Bertha!!!

So happy to see you!! :hug:
Duckie

[Bertha Venation]

39. Thanks, Duckie. Good to get your greeting.

:hug:

[Philostopher]

15. Have done both.

I've heard the explanation that there are security concerns, with a bunch of random people having open access to school property during the day -- they're afraid, I guess, that somebody might mess with the kids. I've done both -- voted in churches and schools. I think Election Day should be a national holiday, myself, or be held on the weekend -- regardless where we vote -- which would open up the schools and negate the security problem, but who am I to say?

I always listen, though -- I'm afraid the roof of the church is going to come down every time I go into one to vote.

[gratuitous]

18. Not unusual, and . . .

Despite what certain segments of Christianity would have you believe, a number of churches and congregations take their civic obligations very seriously. My own teeny tiny congregation is very mindful of the tax break it gets not having to pay property taxes, and we actively seek out ways to provide free hosting to groups that would otherwise not have a place or who would find the standard user fees charged by privately-run auditoriums prohibitively expensive.

Providing a polling place is one more way that a lot of churches use to give back something to their communities. Believe it or not, the members of those churches actually live in the surrounding community and care deeply about the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

[hlthe2b]

20. Yes, gratuitous... I agree completely.

[hlthe2b]

19. Very common-- they are set up for large crowds and

handicap-accessible. Please don't overreact about it... Churches have been a site for many precincts for many many decades, as well as for other community-wide needs (like emergency vaccination clinics, etc.

[redqueen]

23. But but but

they're Baptists. ;)

[Bridget Burke]

21. Is it really in the Church?

Probably voting will happen in the church hall (or whatever they call it)--which will be about as religious as the school cafeteria.

Of course, sometimes you can't tell. Raised Catholic, my first thought on visiting our local Baptist church: "Who took all their stuff?"

[VelmaD]

22. I have problems with this...

not so much from the church that acts as my polling place, but from stories I've heard from others. My guy best friend has his polling place in a church in Duncanville and has had problems with the preacher standing out front loudly praying that the lord will guide people to "vote the right way".

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

27. He should be reported to the local Board of Elections

In most states, any type of persuasion is illegal. Now if the preacher is beyond the 100 ft. limit (in Ohio) he can pray all he wants -- whether the polling place is in a church or not.

[VelmaD]

30. He did...

report it. It didn't make a difference. It was the same group of right-wing loonies who approved that church as a polling place in the first place.

One of the problems is that the polling locations get PAID if they aren't a public building...I didn't know that and when I found out my hear just about exploded.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

35. Lawsuit

They really can't do that sort of thing.

And it's common for non-pubic buildings to receive compensation for being a polling location. It's not much -- hardly covers the cost of needing someone there from 6:30 - 7:30.

[redqueen]

28. That's exactly the kind of thing I'm worried about.

Hopefully North Dallas Baptists aren't as pushy. If they are, I forsee a confrontation.

:grr:

[curse10]

26. I've always voted in schools

:shrug:

[JVS]

29. My church is a polling place, in fact it is my polling place.

[ZenLefty]

32. Mine's in a church.

I love it, because it's 2 blocks from my house. :D

[NoPasaran]

33. My precinct votes at a church

Although the polls are actually at the assembly hall next to the sanctuary building.

Of course, this year I actually early voted at a Home Depot.

[nicolemrw]

34. mines in the local ambulance corps

i guess if anyone collapses or if violence breaks out its good to have emts around. :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. Not uncommon

It usually happens in the church's social hall, and they don't make you pray or attend services before voting. Often a church is the only suitable building in a given neighborhood.

[Droopy]

38. My polling place is a church, also

I don't have a problem with it. What I do have a problem with is Republican supporters standing directly outside the place handing out campaign literature. That happened last time.

[bearfan454]

40. Mine is too.

Precinct 428 of Williamson County votes at the Lutheran Church. I early voted already anyways.

[redqueen]

41. I would have voted early

but I'd have to use those blasted electronic vote eaters. They already burned me in the midterms - never again!