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Moving Voting Locations away from Public Schools; to churches?
Topic Started: May 13 2014, 04:47 PM (450 Views)
Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Article:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/some-schools-want-stop-serving-voting-sites

I am disappointed to learn that

1. "Some" public schools are trying to stop serving as voting locations (supposedly in response to security concerns following shooting incidents)

2. Apparently quite a few localities are considering such changes seriously; some states legislatures even have legislations ready to make this happen, and

3. one voting district has already went ahead and implemented the change -- it moved the voting location from a public school building to a Catholic church building.

#1 and #2 I see as poor justification to make an unneeded change. Public schools are good voting places. Security issues can be mitigated by cordoning off the section of the building used for voting or scheduling voting days on non-school days.

#3 I believe is a First Amendment violation -- how can you make citizens attending venues of religious worship as a condition to exercise their basic right to vote?

If you have a few minutes, perhaps you can Google and see if this movement is impacting your voting district?

Other comments and viewpoints welcome.
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Copper
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Shortstop
The entire country is a venue of religious worship, even public schools, guaranteed by the Constitution.

Where I voted in Boston was a Catholic school.

Here it is a public school, usually closed to students on election days. And you can worship whatever you want.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
I don't want people wandering into schools with no security. Apart from the looney-toon brigade who apparently don't like to venture outside their fortified housing facilities unless heavily armed in case they are suddenly assaulted by the King of England, there's also child molesters and assorted perverts to worry about. As far as I'm concerned they should have the voting stations somewhere else.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
Why not county courthouses or city halls?
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
Mark
May 13 2014, 05:04 PM
Why not county courthouses
Won't that scare away the Democrat voters?
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Along with school gymnasiums, church halls and basements are commonly used as polling stations on election days here. I do not see it as an issue. I am also not aware of it as an issue for any voter.
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
AlbertaCrude
May 13 2014, 05:29 PM
Along with school gymnasiums, church halls and basements are commonly used as polling stations on election days here. I do not see it as an issue. I am also not aware of it as an issue for any voter.
You're not surrounded by highly religious gun-toting madmen desperately trying to raise enough money to buy health insurance.

Neither am I, incidentally, but apparently parts of America are completely nuts.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Yes, upon reflection I see that it could be an issue elsewhere. Though I still can't grasp why it would or even should be raised as an issue of concern let alone warrant any consideration.
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
I have voted in both schools and churches and have never had an issue with it.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
John D'Oh
May 13 2014, 05:58 PM
AlbertaCrude
May 13 2014, 05:29 PM
Along with school gymnasiums, church halls and basements are commonly used as polling stations on election days here. I do not see it as an issue. I am also not aware of it as an issue for any voter.
You're not surrounded by highly religious gun-toting madmen desperately trying to raise enough money to buy health insurance.

Neither am I, incidentally, but apparently parts of America are completely nuts.
Must not be down here, since many of the polling places are in schools, churches or even little country stores.

Some of y'all need to get a grip...
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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brenda
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..............
City halls and township halls handle much of it here. Community centers would be another option.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
AlbertaCrude
May 13 2014, 06:20 PM
Yes, upon reflection I see that it could be an issue elsewhere. Though I still can't grasp why it would or even should be raised as an issue of concern let alone warrant any consideration.
To be more serious, the problem with schools is that normally they have a pretty rigorous security system in place to stop people just wandering in, and on election days it's impossible to implement.

Whether it's really needed is of course open to question - have there been any actual instances of problems during elections at schools? I'm unaware of any. Unfortunately, a lot of things seem to be driven by paranoia - and of course there's plenty of that on both sides of the aisle.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
John D'Oh
May 14 2014, 04:45 AM
To be more serious, the problem with schools is that normally they have a pretty rigorous security system in place to stop people just wandering in
Really? Not in Canada they don't. A couple years ago, in fact, I had to go to my old high school to get a copy of my diploma. Middle of the day I just walked in a side door. No one stopped me to ask who I was or what I was doing there. I even wandered around a bit, having not been inside in so long.
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Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Florida mosque removed as polling site after anti-Islamic backlash
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36796493

Pretty obvious religious discrimination right there. OK to use a Chrisian church as polling site, but not so to use an Islamic mosque for same.
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
I figured they'd have a problem with people wearing shoes inside.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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George K
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Finally
jon-nyc
Jul 14 2016, 02:05 PM
I figured they'd have a problem with people wearing shoes inside.
:spit:
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Copper
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Shortstop

As long as they have proper security it should be no big deal.

Posted Image
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Mark
May 13 2014, 05:04 PM
Why not county courthouses or city halls?
Well, here for example, there is a voting centre (usually school or church) for every neighbourhood. So there would be, I'm estimating 20-30 different locations throughout the city, judging by how my polling centres have always been in walking distance. I live in a medium sized city of about 600,000, and can't see the entire voting population flocking to city hall or the courthouse. Would be an absolute zoo.
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Steve Miller
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Bull-Carp
John D'Oh
May 13 2014, 05:20 PM
Mark
May 13 2014, 05:04 PM
Why not county courthouses
Won't that scare away the Democrat voters?
Democra-tic, dude. DEMOCRATIC. If you are going to denigrate 75% of the country it's worth getting the slander right.
Wag more
Bark less
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
75%? I'm slipping.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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