Does it irritate the crap out of anyone else when polling places are in a church? I have to go to Christ the King Lutheran church tomorrow.
Might be the only useful thing they ever do! And considering how much they save not having to pay taxes, seems only right that they provide some sort of public service or benefit. Fortunately, my voting station is just an activity building on the church property and not decorated with all the Christian tchotchkes.
Didn't think about the tax angle of it, that makes me feel better.
Seems like a clear violation of separation of church and state.
Agreed. Plus, unless it's a wedding or funeral, I REALLY don't like setting foot into a flipping church.
As I see it, as much as the church in some cases is allowed to interfere with matters of the state, the least they can do is host a polling place or two.
My problem with using churches is that the ones selected in my area are nowhere near buslines. That means people without their own vehicles are forced to walk great distances (in the awful Phoenix heat), or beg a ride from someone. Just another way to disenfranchise voters.
churches are often the only building in a community that is large enough to handle an election. it's a matter of convenience
It’s summer and there are plenty of empty schools in the city
@Marcie1974 elections aren't always held in the summer
No. It's one of the few places that has the space for the number of people coming in and out and it's not like they have anything else going on on a Tuesday
It’s summer, most schools are empty
Wouldn't bother me, unless it is a Mosque.
@OlderMusicGeek
The building itself is neutral. The ideology practiced within is cruel, oppressive, deceptive, theocratic and totalitarian. It is the ideology which bothers me.
@OlderMusicGeek There is only one Islam, defined by the Qur'an and example of Muhammad.
@OlderMusicGeek has deleted his comments and left the building. I suspect that he is a supporter of the ersatz "religion of peace".
I've been looking for a place to hold meetings for my art group but um looking for someplace free. I refuse to use a church facility.
Honest, no thunderbolts for your being in just a building for a few minutes.
You don’t have to go.
I agree. Mail-in ballot or vote early , problem eliminated.
@PickledRick or don’t vote. Makes it way easier.
But I like going and voting on the actual day. I don't care to set foot in a church unless it's for a wedding or funeral and then I'm only doing it out of respect for the couple/deceased. As others have said, it seems like a violation of church and state. My city has plenty of schools and government buildings they can use.
My polling place is a church. It the big scheme of things it is not as bad as some churches would be in that the voting happens in an area with a separate entrance on the back side, and is set up in room immediately off the entrance. So thankfully you don’t have to wave to Jesus on your way to vote or pass by propangda either. I have mixed feelings about it but this church has been the polling place for as long as I have lived in the neighborhood. In Nebraska they have your party affiliation in the registration book so automatically give you the correct ballot.
No, as they generally have decent parking and room to accommodate crowds.