Is your polling location in a church?

[earthling]

Internet voting would make that a non-issue as well.

[aknowledgeableperson]

Church's are used because they are readily available, semi-public, willing locations. Election judges are present to enforce rules.

In many precincts the only building large enough would be a church.

Funny thing about election judges. In KC I was a Republican. Now in Cass County I am a Democrat. Wasn't asked what party when I signed up for either location. For my fellow judges rules were rules, didn't matter about party.

[IraGlacialis]

Well it is clear that there are more and more churches that have a political agenda. Many reports on that. Places that have very clear political agendas are not neutral voting locations.

There is just as likely to be more and more community centers that have an political agenda as well. Secularism does not ensure political impartiality.
The point is moot in that regard.

[earthling]

Example?

If 1/3 to 1/2 of the polling places in your city were say Planned Parenthood centers, wouldn't that raise a few eyebrows?

[aknowledgeableperson]

Deal with reality. What you propose would not happen for many reasons. The main one being Planned Parenthood would not let that happen.

[chaglang]

Since my polling place moved to a Church's I found myself voting a lot more than I used to.

[earthling]

Deal with reality. What you propose would not happen for many reasons. The main one being Planned Parenthood would not let that happen.

Well that was obviously hypothetical. But 1/3 to 1/2 of churches as polling places is neutral?

[beautyfromashes]

Deal with reality. What you propose would not happen for many reasons. The main one being Planned Parenthood would not let that happen.

Well that was obviously hypothetical. But 1/3 to 1/2 of churches as polling places is neutral?

Seriously, you might want to find someone to talk to. The polling places I've been to in churches are about as generic as the non-church sites. That my election site is on Emanuel Clever Boulevard would have about as much to do to influence my vote as anything. Oh, and churches are pretty equally liberal and conservative. I would guess they would even each other out. But, this is really a dumb conversation, huh?

[earthling]

Again, this isn't really about fear of proselytizing, although it happens (see below) as well as other forms of subtle influence that may occur for some as one link suggests. Nothing happened at my polling place but it was awkward to me that is where they held it. Was the first time I've seen a church as one.

Is more curious that election boards focus on churches as the primary voting place when there is a growing number of churches that are politically active even if they cancel each other out on some issues. It's something to point out and discuss. Is also curious that some here seem to specifically want churches.

http://www.fairelectionsnetwork.com/webfm_send/17

Check out pictures at end of link before replying. Is it really dumb to discuss this or you don't want to discuss so that it continues?

Edit: Here's another..
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/us/no ... e-ban.html

This could be solved by switching churches for internet voting. Yet there is this strange defense for churches for some reason as if something like this doesn't happen.

[grovester]

Yep, those photos are out of bounds and someone should have pointed them out to the election office. I'd imagine someone did.

I'd be all for internet voting, assuming it could be foolproofed.

Still don't think it's a real issue.

[brewcrew1000]

Do they ever vote at YMCA's? Seems like there are a lot of those around town. You could hold them at schools, y's, libraries, and community centers probably avoiding churches all together

[IraGlacialis]

^^^^^
That option is obviously off the book. There is "Christian" in the title so one might be influenced subconsciously.

Example?

If 1/3 to 1/2 of the polling places in your city were say Planned Parenthood centers, wouldn't that raise a few eyebrows?

The fact that a community center can serve as an meeting place for politically-active organizations, run/founded by a person/organization with certain leanings, can be involved in outreach to certain demographics, and could have artwork hung-up that shows definite political leanings.
All of these can imply activism in an indirect way, which is little different from your worries of indirect influence.

As for your second point, PP centers are neither public centers (courthouse, city hall, fire-station, library, etc) nor are they a form of community center, something which religious buildings do serve as (many times solely in the case of rural and low-income areas). Practically, why would one allow people to use a clinic or hospital as a polling place?

Besides, in places such as Dearborn, I'd bet that there are mosques that are used a polling centers.

[heatherkay]

This is interesting. I think Sylvester Stallone has an undue effect on my voting.

http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2010/11/de ... ng-places/

[beautyfromashes]

Why don't we just build thousands of new polling places devoid of any influence so as not to offend anyone. No signs, just white blank buildings. I mean...black... Hmmmm. Rainbow painted buil.... DAMN IT!!!!

[chaglang]

Why don't we just build thousands of new polling places devoid of any influence so as not to offend anyone. No signs, just white blank buildings. I mean...black... Hmmmm. Rainbow painted buil.... DAMN IT!!!!

Invisible, like the Wonder Woman jet.

[IraGlacialis]

This is interesting. I think Sylvester Stallone has an undue effect on my voting.

http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2010/11/de ... ng-places/

Huh...
I guess that invalidates my comment about non-public, non-community locations.

[shinatoo]

The other thing that makes Houses of Worship ideal is that they are rarely used on election day. So no conflict with traffic. It also goes back to tradition when the Church was the only building in town that served as a public meeting space. The majority of public high school graduations in this town happen in churches.

Which brings up another question. Why do we vote in the middle of the week? Saturdays would be much better.

[lock+load]

Which brings up another question. Why do we vote in the middle of the week? Saturdays would be much better.

This is a much bigger issue than polling places in churches.

[chingon]

Which brings up another question. Why do we vote in the middle of the week? Saturdays would be much better.

Answer: because of churches.

[earthling]

^^^^^

The fact that a community center can serve as an meeting place for politically-active organizations, run/founded by a person/organization with certain leanings, can be involved in outreach to certain demographics, and could have artwork hung-up that shows definite political leanings.

That's pretty weak, please post some specific examples. You likely won't see community centers organize and tell it's members how to vote and then setup a polling location to make it easier for all to vote for that specific purpose as some churches do. Let us know when you find examples like this at community centers...