Voting in a church or religious facility

I understand that there is a seperation of Church and State, but when I am forced to cast my vote in a church (merely because it will facilitate the masses), I find it to be insulting and against the basic foundation of seperation of Church and State.

Am I wrong? What do you think?

What State are you talking about that does that?

We do at our church. It's a matter of convenience only.

I've never voted in a church sanctuary, but I've voted at a church school auditorium and on church property. Never walked past a pew to cast a ballot though.

I'm sure it's a matter of practicality. Where else would you suggest precincts be set up? Not on commerical property. Not in residences. There aren't enough recreational facilities or libraries to hold the number of people who have registered to vote. Churches are generally empty on Tuesdays ... this does not seem like a religious conspiracy to me. Just common sense.

I live in the great state of FLORIDA but I must cast my vote at a religious facility. That is where I am told to go. I am proud to cast my vote but I find that casting my vote in a religious facility to be against the seperation of Church and State. If my children cannot pray in public schools, why should I be asked to vote in a church- no matter religious affiliation.

I've never voted in a church sanctuary, but I've voted at a church school auditorium and on church property. Never walked past a pew to cast a ballot though.

I'm sure it's a matter of practicality. Where else would you suggest precincts be set up? Not on commerical property. Not in residences. There aren't enough recreational facilities or libraries to hold the number of people who have registered to vote. Churches are generally empty on Tuesdays ... this does not seem like a religious conspiracy to me. Just common sense.

I work part time for a very large Methodist church and everything you stated is the exact reasoning. Church facilities have been used for community service for hundred's of years.

My precinct (as well as quite a few others around here) is in a church gym, but others are in the Civic Center, a conference center, and wherever they can put them. I have known schools to shut down on election day because of the need for space, which I think is ridiculous.

I've always thought that churches and schools should share buildings, since one is only open on evenings and Sundays and the other is hardly ever open on evenings and Sundays. Church and State are institutions; sanctuaries and polling places are merely structures.

I live in the great state of FLORIDA but I must cast my vote at a religious facility. That is where I am told to go. I am proud to cast my vote but I find that casting my vote in a religious facility to be against the seperation of Church and State. If my children cannot pray in public schools, why should I be asked to vote in a church- no matter religious affiliation.

Then I would suggest you do a bit more study of the elections laws in the great state of FLORIDA. Because in FLORIDA you also have the OPTION of early voting which takes place in government facilities as well as voting by mail with the request of an absentee ballot. This would allow you to complete your civic duty from the comfort of your HOME. So no one is FORCING you to vote in a religious facility of any sort. You OPTED to vote in the religious facility.

Then I would suggest you do a bit more study of the elections laws in the great state of FLORIDA. Because in FLORIDA you also have the OPTION of early voting which takes place in government facilities as well as voting by mail with the request of an absentee ballot. This would allow you to complete your civic duty from the comfort of your HOME. So no one is FORCING you to vote in a religious facility of any sort. You OPTED to vote in the religious facility.

Excellent point, Walton GOP! I, unfortunately, missed the the opportunity to vote (GOP, by the way!) due to lack of notification (no pre-announcement as I received in my precious state- which sucked!). I heard two days ago (01/27) about the pre-voting but was unable to do so...I just feel that perhaps a voting place such as a school or a non-affiliated property would be more condusive (sp?) to the situation- not in a religious atomosphere.

Excellent point, Walton GOP! I, unfortunately, missed the the opportunity to vote (GOP, by the way!) due to lack of notification (no pre-announcement as I received in my precious state- which sucked!). I heard two days ago (01/27) about the pre-voting but was unable to do so...I just feel that perhaps a voting place such as a school or a non-affiliated property would be more condusive (sp?) to the situation- not in a religious atomosphere.

I am without words on this one. And that, my friend, is a feat. Just ask ShallowsNole. You are to be congratulated.

My precinct (as well as quite a few others around here) is in a church gym, but others are in the Civic Center, a conference center, and wherever they can put them. I have known schools to shut down on election day because of the need for space, which I think is ridiculous.

I've always thought that churches and schools should share buildings, since one is only open on evenings and Sundays and the other is hardly ever open on evenings and Sundays. Church and State are institutions; sanctuaries and polling places are merely structures.

Agreed. So what is the solution to this?

go vote and don't be offended by the location.

I am without words on this one. And that, my friend, is a feat. Just ask ShallowsNole. You are to be congratulated.

Strike that- it was in my previous state that I got notice...I am not complaining! Just pointing out something that I find to be ...odd...Hey...I can complain about everything...I voted! If you did not vote...don't complain! Thank god we live in the US of A!

Agreed. So what is the solution to this?

There first must be a problem to solve. For churches to open up their facilities for the community is what they are suppose to do. This is not a problem and for those that do not like to vote in a church for some reason, there are other ways to vote.

BeachPrincess, you should read SoWal.com more often. WaltonGOP and myself have mentioned the early voting more than once, for more than a week. All I can say is that you cannot rely on your gov't to tell you to do things, or that things are available. You have to be proactive and do your own dd, no matter the subject. If you ARE relying on the gov't, maybe you would be more interested in John McCain, or the Democratic Party. (just having a little fun with you.)

I understand that there is a seperation of Church and State, but why am I forced to cast my vote in a church merely because it will facilitate the masses?
I find it to be insulting and against the basic foundation of seperation of Church and State.

Am I wrong? What do you think?



This is merely my thoughts and opinions- would love feedback!

in california in the past some of the places to vote were actually in the garages of houses in neighborhoods, i don't know if it is still that way or not but, i found that very strange. it seems to me that one day a house would have political signs displayed then the next day (voting day) the signs would taken down and the polls would open in the garage locations.so the church seems to be better than that to me.

You, Smilin' JOe and Walton GOP are right! I am trying to be more proactive...I still have a problem castin my vote in a religious facility...Just my opinion...BTW... I declare that I did vote for McCain AND FOR #1. I am not ashamed of my vote...people may disagree but it is my vote and I'm stickin' to it!

BeachPrincess, thanks for being a good sport. For future reference, Walton County's website, has a page for Supervisor of Elections. Here is the info on Early Voting.

Put both web sites in my favorites! Thanks Smilin JOe! and Walton GOP!

I can attest that early voting was quite hassle free and the ladies made it quite fun.

BTW, the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. It is found in Thomas Jefferson's response letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, when they complained that Connecticut's view of religious freedoms were seen as privileges granted by the Legislature, rather than Godly rights. Jefferson wrote that the 1st Amendment erected a "wall of separation" between the church and the state. The phrase is commonly thought to mean that the government should not establish, support, or otherwise involve itself in any religion. Jefferson was very religious, and thought that religion was an extremely private matter, hence his reasoning of the wall of separation, commonly known today as "separation of Church and State." Jefferson didn't even want Washington's day of thanksgiving to be recognized on the Federal level, so he discontinued it. Many people, today, follow Jefferson's thoughts on the language in the 1st Amendment, so I can see your point of not wanting voting to take place in religious places of worship. I can tell you this, I bet many people who go to the Court House to cast their vote against Hillary, are praying that she doesn't win, so gov't and religion do share common places in time. ;-)
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression--

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I live in the great state of FLORIDA but I must cast my vote at a religious facility. That is where I am told to go. I am proud to cast my vote but I find that casting my vote in a religious facility to be against the seperation of Church and State. If my children cannot pray in public schools, why should I be asked to vote in a church- no matter religious affiliation.

Actually, I think there is a whole lot of praying in school, Oh God, don't let me get caught... Oh God, let me pass this test... Oh God, ...!!!

What a refreshing thread! Beach Princess...I have been voting since before answering machines ;-). I can only remember voting in schools and churches or by absentee ballot. I am glad you found an answer to your dilemma!

In Kentucky, school is always closed on election day since many of the polling places are at schools.

God knows we didn't need yet another day of from school to make the year even longer, so I am thankful we voted anywhere BUT a school.

In Kentucky, school is always closed on election day since many of the polling places are at schools.

God knows we didn't need yet another day of from school to make the year even longer, so I am thankful we voted anywhere BUT a school.

Agree - Kids are grown now but I remember dreading election days

<Sound of tongue being inserted in cheek>

If you move to Rosemary, you can vote at the Town Hall.