Agnostic.com

33 8

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.

Marcie1974 8 Aug 13
Share

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

33 comments

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

8

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.

dkp93 Level 8 Aug 13, 2018

Didn't think about the tax angle of it, that makes me feel better.

7

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.

4

It should be illegal. It would be if government was truly secular as the Founders intended.

3

My polling place used to be the basement of a Catholic church. I didn't care. Then it was the auditorium of a middle school. Now it's the civic center. Just so long as I can show up, sign in and vote I really don't care where they hold the election.

2

nah its just a building

Exactly.

2

As long as no one tries to preach to me or get me to join the church, nope. I'm happy to have somewhere to vote.

2

I don’t mind. I just want to make sure my vote counts.

2

I don't have any spiritual or religious reverence for buildings. To me It's like going into a "haunted" house.

JimG Level 8 Aug 13, 2018
2

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.

1

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.

1

Almost like big brother..and God are watching your every move ?

1

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

1

Think of it as a museum.

1

It's a building - it's better than standing out in the rain - no one is asking you to throw "holy" water at your face or pray.

1

Mainly just because of the smell

1

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

GwenC Level 7 Aug 13, 2018

It’s summer, most schools are empty

1

I've never had to do that. I would greatly bother me.

1

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".

1

It's just a building. Don't assign things to it. While I'm a non-theist, I enjoy the art while I'm in there -- not that I'd take home any of it. It just gives me something to do while waiting for whatever.

1

I wasn't an atheist the last time I voted. Since, my polling also in a church, I will not to thrilled to step into one to vote this time.

1

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.

1

Honest, no thunderbolts for your being in just a building for a few minutes.

1

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.

0

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.

Ohub Level 7 Aug 14, 2018
0

No, as they generally have decent parking and room to accommodate crowds.

Write Comment
You can include a link to this post in your posts and comments by including the text q:154503
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.