PollsInChurches

• 18-Sep-2006: Delivered letter to RegistrarOfVoters regarding polling places in churches and Christian Examiner newspaper.
  Letter_To_Registar_of_Voters_re_polling_in_churches.rtf: Requests list of polling places in churches, requests no more polling in churches, requests followup on Christian Examiner Newspaper.
• 04-Oct-2006: Called to get status. Referred to person handling it. Left message for a return call.
• Len Schultz, Chief Deputy of Precinct Services is handling the request. Direct phone line: (858) 565-5800 x5493
• Left second message, Oct 5.
• Had an extensive voice conversation with Leonard Schultz. He suggested that we make the request to move polling places out of churches to the Secretary of State.
• RoV_Response_10-23-06.pdf: Response from Registrar of Voters 10-23-06

• Califorina Elections Code - State Legislative Section 12280 See http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/code/code.html?sec=elec&codesection=12280-12288

• ElectioneeringLaws - Distribution of Christian Examiner Newspaper should have been processed as a misdemeanor.
• PollingPlacesCanAffectElections - Study by Stanford University Graduate School

• VoterGuidesAtHillsideCommunityChurch
• GeneralGuideToChurchPolitics

Information from Registrar of Voters obtained 10/20/2006:

County wide, a total of 499 precincts are in churches, some share the same church, so there are fewer churches involved. There are a total of 1646 actual polling places (not including virtual precincts that correspond to different types of ballots, of which there were 257 in the last election.) So, about 30% of the polling places are in churches.

They could not say how many churches put the polling machines in the sanctuary, or on the altar, as we found in Hillside Church of God. However, he assured me that they requested that all churches move the polling places out of the sanctuary.

I. will have this list at the 10/24/2006 meeting and we can discuss how to handle a survey of the churches to see where they have their precinct, and if they have the Christian Examiner newspaper available in the polling place (as we found at Hillside Church of God). It is likely that we will need some volunteers to visit those sites and see what they are doing. In our area, we have the following 71 Churches to survey.

WHAT TO DO: 1. Check WHERE the polling is being done. It should NOT be in a ceremonial area (i.e. sanctuary). 2. Check for VOTER GUIDES such as the CHRISTIAN EXAMINIER Newspaper. There should be nothing with 100 feet. 3. At the end of the day, if you can, take pictures of the final results and write it down. See ElectionMonitoring for details. 4. Call RegistrarOfVoters info line and leave complaint. 5. We will follow up with a written complaint after the election. PLEASE EMAIL raylutz@ecdcweb.org and tell him which location you want to check out.

• combinedlist.xls: All polling places in Churches in San Diego County

In the News:

• http://mainstreetnewspapers.com/articles/2006/10/26/salem/news/news08.txt - "American Legion voting precinct moves to Bethel Baptist Church" - In the past there was much opposition to using churches as voting places because, as opponents put it, it violated the constitutional principle of separation of church and state. Most of the opposition was from concerned individuals in churches even though there was no evidence of the church being taken over by any level of government or the other way around.
• http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2006/11/many-will-vote-today-in-church.html - "Churches play an election role" - Rob Boston, assistant director of communications for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said governments should limit the practice.
  
  "Local governments should realize that not everybody is comfortable voting in churches," he said. "Generally speaking, a community center or a school would be better."
  
  Because churches are allowed to weigh in on ballot initiatives, he said, it is important to ensure that any literature related to their positions be removed before Election Day.
  
  State law prohibits campaigning or distributing political pamphlets within 100 feet of a polling place on Election Day.

-- Main.RaymondLutz - 04 Oct 2006