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Voting Poles Held at Church Locations

So today I voted but I have to go through a church to do it. Don't you think we deserve a place that is secular to vote at?

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Comment by Keith R Araneo on November 8, 2010 at 4:02pm: I cast my ballot and continued on my day. The location had no bearing on my decisions. The government also paid to set up polling places in private school gymnasiums. I don't mind that the places that set up and staffed polling stations received money for adding an element of convenience to the democratic process.

Comment by Dogly on November 8, 2010 at 3:35pm: Thanks, Earther! One thing is sure. If atheists do not become more vocal, political, and self identified as non-believers, our rights will continue to be abridged. Voting absentee, or voting on the internet may let us avoid houses of worship, but it will change nothing. We must become real activists. We will be reviled, but we are already reviled. We should stand up on our hind legs and fight for freedom FROM religion in our government.

Comment by Earther on November 8, 2010 at 3:11pm: Dogly, I agree with you and thank you for your comment. It matters a lot that our tax dollars are supporting these private places. It also shows how our government is not interested in our civil rights. I say that broadly but today it is "oh so true".

Comment by Dogly on November 8, 2010 at 2:56pm: None of you gave your opinion about the tax money paid to churches for use as polling places. Doesn't this bother you, especially in states like FL where it is so clearly unconstitutional? This is a battle we can win! "I hadn't thought about it." " It doesn't matter a bit." Why not??

Comment by Keith R Araneo on November 7, 2010 at 10:17am: I think it doesn't matter at all.

Comment by Dogly on November 7, 2010 at 5:27am: What indifferent reactions to our government paying churches - PAYING CHURCHES - to be polling places, or for ANY other "services"! I've been fighting this in FL for years. Lindsey says that churches and schools are the most numerous centers in communities. Soooo? Why not schools? In CA I voted in peoples' garages, NEVER in church. The FL constitution in stonger on separation issues than is the U.S. Constitution. It says that not one cent may be spent to benefit churches. The FL gov. does not deny this. They say there are not enough polling places without churches and they don't want to give kids a day off. I guess that might imply to the kids that voting is important. I have had poll workers pray at and for me as I entered and left my polling church. I worked to get the training materials changed to teach poll workers to say, "Thanks for voting" and little else. Why are more atheists not up in arms about this marriage of state and church? Your tax dollars are going to the business that condemns you to hell! This church rental amounts to big bucks. I think a law suit in each state that allows this practice would be very effective. A class action suit of infidels - who will join?

Comment by Amy Fry on November 7, 2010 at 1:07am: I think it's just more "proof" that god doesn't exist. Not one atheist has burst into flames nor been struck by lightning upon entering. I don't mind where I vote as long as it counts. I'd do it in an outhouse if I had to.

Comment by Earther on November 4, 2010 at 5:29pm: I think we should be able to vote on line just like we are able to use our credit cards online. I know there are a lot of hackers but hackers exploit the polls as well.

Comment by Lindsey S. on November 4, 2010 at 1:57pm: I think voting locations primarily have to do with convenience. There are bound to be several churches and schools in each precint, so voters will have an easy time getting to the polls. But there might not be a secular community center in each precint. Let's face it: churches and schools are the two most numerous and easy to get to locations, so it just makes sense to do it there.

Comment by AletheaT on November 4, 2010 at 11:55am: We change it by making a stink about it. If the secular lobbyists in Washington get enough support they may be able to make some sort of change. But if you notice there are tons of churches in comparison to community centers, in large cities there might be a problem with having enough places to vote.