Do you think it is wrong that churches are used as polling places?

Answer 1

YES.

My polling location is a roman catholic church. Above the booths, they have a 4' tall crucifix with Jesus 'looking down' at you.

I believe it's unintentional. I'm not thinking that it is a conspiracy or anything. However, that doesn't change the fact that it IS an emotionally charged building.

Answer 2

If it makes some voters uncomfortable to enter their polling place, then yes it is wrong. A public school is a much better choice.
Interesting side note: The place that I go to for sounding my opinions on national security, the place where I vote about issues that relate to my desire to live in a peaceful world, is an Arabic school. It just happens to be available as our local polling place. I'm an American and a lot of the stuff in the Middle East really scares me, but I'm not afraid of my polling place and that helps me to not be afraid of the Arabic members of my community.
So I recommend that if your polling place happens to be a church, don't let that keep you from voting, but ask your election officials to move the polling place somewhere else when and if they can.

Answer 3

Anyone who thinks that voting at a church is violating seperation of church and state needs help. Churches are used as a matter of convenience as a place for people to go and vote giving them most likely closer places to home. Voting at a church is not pushing one religion over another you geniuses when all sorts of public and private establishments are used as poling places. There are not always enough court houses and public schools to house everyone to vote and since churches are everywhere like schools by design it makes it convenient place to set up. Plus you can often find many people who belong to that church who will volunteer to man the poling place. Don't forget that by law you have to have a Dem and a Rep at each poling place.

Now if the church is trying to convert people who come in to vote then there might be another issue there, but I can guarntee with all of the chaos going on trying to get votes in and direct people, especially locations that have a large amount of registered voters the chances of that happening are slim.

Seriously some of you need to chill out.

Answer 4

Well, this atheist who voted in an evangelical church yesterday doesn't have a problem with it.

Although it's closer than the school we often use, it isn't as close (or as good a place) as the firehouse, so I don't prefer it to the firehouse, but it doesn't influence my vote.

I don't see why it would influence anyone else's.

All of the same "no campaigning" laws still apply.

Answer 5

Well, then some people would not have a place to come in out of the rain to vote. Some parts of the country are sparsely populated and have no other place. I live southwest of Mobile ,AL. I vote in a Baptist church. Where would you have us vote?

Answer 6

Why would it be wrong, They use schools too....

So, If you as an atheist dont want to go to church. You can still vote.

Oh you are saying the church congregation will be more likely to vote?

No..... they were ALWAYS more likely to vote. The location wouldnt make one bit of difference. The pastors encourage them to vote all the time :-D

Too bad you dems werent to busy getting high and having abortions to get out and vote last time, I guess you are lucky The republicans had so many scandels this time around, Foley was the clincher for sure though.

Answer 7

no as the Church building may be the best location and there is a chance to have extra income as well.

Answer 8

They are not being used as political places.

Answer 9

It really should be a government building. Though with all the tax breaks they get, it's the least they can do.

Answer 10

I would prefer to keep church and state separate, so yes.