Polls In Churches

• 18-Sep-2006: Delivered letter to Registrar Of Voters 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

• Electioneering Laws - Distribution of Christian Examiner Newspaper should have been processed as a misdemeanor.
• Polling Places Can Affect Elections - Study by Stanford University Graduate School

• Voter Guides At Hillside Community Church
  • General Guide To Church Politics

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 Election Monitoring for details.
4. Call Registrar Of Voters 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

Precinct	Area	Church	Address	City	Zip	Volunteer	Notes
466400	SANTEE	CALVARY CHAPEL OF SANTEE	10920 SUMMIT AVE	SANTEE	92071
466560	SANTEE	VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH	8824 COTTONWOOD AVE	SANTEE	92071
466570	SANTEE	SON RISE COMMUNITY CHURCH	8805 N MAGNOLIA AVE	SANTEE	92071
466800	SANTEE	CARLTON HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH	9225 CARLTON OAKS DR	SANTEE	92071
467100	SANTEE	CARLTON HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH	9225 CARLTON OAKS DR	SANTEE	92071
468110	SANTEE	VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH	8824 COTTONWOOD AVE	SANTEE	92071	Mike Elkins	Two precincts in sanctuary, sign-in on altar. Community room unused. Voter Guides (2 types) found in lobby. After complaint, they were removed but the pastor returned them after we left. "This is a church first and a polling place second."
468320	SANTEE	1 ST ASSEMBLY CHURCH	728 PEPPER DR	EL CAJON	92021
471300	EL CAJON	EL CAJON FOURSQUARE CHR. "Heartland" CHAPEL	1012 E BRADLEY AVE	EL CAJON	92021	Mike Elkins	Polls in rear of Sanctuary area.
471500	EL CAJON	CHURCH OF NAZARENE-FOYER	1123 N MOLLISON AVE	EL CAJON	92021	Mike Elkins
472500	EL CAJON	REFORMATION LUTHERAN CHURCH	1013 BROADWAY	EL CAJON	92021	Mike Elkins
472600	EL CAJON	CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH	401 BROADWAY	EL CAJON	92021	Mike Elkins
472610	EL CAJON	1 ST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHR RM 205	990 NARANCA AVE	EL CAJON	92021
474310	EL CAJON	UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HALL	1465 E MADISON AVE	EL CAJON	92019	Peter Moore-Kochlacs
474700	EL CAJON	ST JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH-FIRESIDE RM	1430 MELODY LN	EL CAJON	92019
474900	EL CAJON	SHADOW MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CHR	2100 GREENFIELD DR	EL CAJON	92019	Raymond Lutz
475600	EL CAJON	ST MICHAELS CHALDEAN CHR HALL	799 E WASHINGTON AVE	EL CAJON	92020	Raymond Lutz
475700	EL CAJON	CHRIST CHURCH UNITY HALL	311 HIGHLAND AVE	EL CAJON	92020
475910	EL CAJON	1 ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH	772 S JOHNSON AVE	EL CAJON	92020
476100	EL CAJON	1 ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH	772 S JOHNSON AVE	EL CAJON	92020
476700	EL CAJON	1 ST LUTHERAN CHURCH HALL	867 S LINCOLN AVE	EL CAJON	92020	Raymond Lutz
476710	EL CAJON	1 ST LUTHERAN CHURCH HALL	867 S LINCOLN AVE	EL CAJON	92020	Raymond Lutz
477600	EL CAJON	EL CAJON WESLEYAN CHR SANCTUARY	1500 E LEXINGTON AVE	EL CAJON	92019	Marge Carlson
477610	EL CAJON	EL CAJON WESLEYAN CHR SANCTUARY	1500 E LEXINGTON AVE	EL CAJON	92019	Marge Carlson
479010	BOSTONIA	BOSTONIA CHURCH OF CHRIST LOBBY	1244 SUMNER AVE/ENTER OFF CROSBY ST	EL CAJON	92021	Marge Carlson
479090	BOSTONIA	BOSTONIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MEETING ROOM	1244 SUMNER AVE	EL CAJON	92021	Marge Carlson
479110	BOSTONIA	CHURCH OF NAZARENE-FOYER	1123 N MOLLISON AVE	EL CAJON	92021	Marge Carlson
479120	BOSTONIA	EL CAJON FOURSQUARE CHR. CHAPEL	1012 E BRADLEY AVE	EL CAJON	92021	Marge Carlson
481200	LA MESA	UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST	5940 KELTON AVE	LA MESA	91942	Lisa Hamann
481800	LA MESA	SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHR	9191 FLETCHER PKWY	LA MESA	91942	Lisa Hamann
482300	LA MESA	JERICHO RD BAPTIST CHURCH	9407 JERICHO RD	LA MESA	91942	Lisa Hamann
482700	LA MESA	UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST	5940 KELTON AVE	LA MESA	91942	Lisa Hamann
483120	LA MESA	LAKE MURRAY ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHR	5480 LAKE MURRAY BLVD	LA MESA	91942	Lisa Hamann
483300	LA MESA	DEL CERRO BAPTIST CHURCH	5512 PENNSYLVANIA LN	LA MESA	91942	Lisa Hamann
483600	LA MESA	DEL CERRO BAPTIST CHURCH	5512 PENNSYLVANIA LN	LA MESA	91942	Lisa Hamann
483610	LA MESA	ST MARTIN OF TOURS CATHOLIC CHURCH	7710 EL CAJON BLVD, BARRY HALL	LA MESA	91941	Lisa Hamann
484800	LA MESA	LA MESA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH	4426 HARBINSON AVE	LA MESA	91941	Lisa Hamann, Josan Feathers
484900	LA MESA	ST MARTIN OF TOURS CATHOLIC CHURCH	7710 EL CAJON BLVD, BARRY HALL	LA MESA	91941	Lisa Hamann, Audrey/Bill Pitts
485000	LA MESA	CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH	7929 LA MESA BLVD	LA MESA	91941	Lisa Hamann
485300	LA MESA	ST LUKES LUTHERAN CHR CHAPEL	150 WILSON ST	LA MESA	91941	Lisa Hamann, Suzy Perkins
485600	LA MESA	ST LUKES LUTHERAN CHR MEETING ROOM	5150 WILSON ST	LA MESA	91941	Lisa Hamann
486000	LA MESA	CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHR HALL	8360 LEMON AVE	LA MESA	91941	Lisa Hamann
486500	LA MESA	WINDSOR HILL BAPTIST CHR HALL	7485 ORIEN AVE	LA MESA	91941	Nancy Goettler	In Social Hall. Ok.
487000	LA MESA	WINDSOR HILL BAPTIST CHR HALL	7485 ORIEN AVE	LA MESA	91941	Nancy Goettler	In Social Hall. Ok.
487010	LA MESA	VISTA LA MESA CHRISTIAN CHR HALL	4210 MASSACHUSETTS AVE	LA MESA	91941	Nancy Goettler	In Social Hall. Ok.
487500	LA MESA	LA MESA ADVENTIST FAMILY LIFE CTR	4207 SPRING GARDENS RD	LA MESA	91941	Karen Otter
487710	LA MESA	LA MESA ADVENTIST FAMILY LIFE CTR	4207 SPRING GARDENS RD	LA MESA	91941	Karen Otter
494110	HELIX	FAITH CHAPEL	9400 CAMPO RD	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Miriam Raftery
494500	HELIX	FAITH CHAPEL	9400 CAMPO RD	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Miriam Raftery
494990	HELIX	CASA DE ORO BAPTIST CHURCH HALL	10195 MADRID WAY	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
495210	HELIX	CASA DE ORO BAPTIST CHURCH HALL	10195 MADRID WAY	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
499210	SPRING VALLEY	FRIENDS COMM CHURCH OF SPRING VALLEY	8955 KENWOOD DR	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
499400	SPRING VALLEY	FRIENDS COMM CHURCH OF SPRING VALLEY	8955 KENWOOD DR	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
499410	SPRING VALLEY	NEW SEASONS CHURCH HALL	2300 BANCROFT DR	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
499600	SPRING VALLEY	NEW LIFE BAPTIST CHURCH	9255 LAMAR ST	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
499700	SPRING VALLEY	NEW LIFE BAPTIST CHURCH	9255 LAMAR ST	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
499900	SPRING VALLEY	NEW SEASONS CHURCH HALL	2300 BANCROFT DR	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
500110	SPRING VALLEY	ATONEMENT LUTHERAN CHURCH	10245 LOMA RANCHO DR	SPRING VALLEY	91978	Tiger Lyons
501300	SPRING VALLEY	GRACE COVENANT CHURCH	9140 AKARD ST	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
501510	SPRING VALLEY	CLOUD 9 WORSHIP CENTER	8498 PASEO IGLESIA	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
501530	SPRING VALLEY	CLOUD 9 WORSHIP CENTER FELLOWSHIP HALL	8498 PASEO IGLESIA	SPRING VALLEY	91977	Tiger Lyons
504500	LEMON GROVE	ST JOHNS CATHOLIC CHR AUDITORIUM	8086 BROADWAY	LEMON GROVE	91945	Bella Montgomery
504700	LEMON GROVE	LEMON GROVE 1ST BAPT. CHR-SONSHINE HOUSE	2798 OLIVE ST	LEMON GROVE	91945	Bella Montgomery
504710	LEMON GROVE	LEMON GROVE CHRISTIAN CHR AUD	6970 SAN MIGUEL AVE	LEMON GROVE	91945	Bella Montgomery
505500	LEMON GROVE	LEMON GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHR	3205 WASHINGTON ST	LEMON GROVE	91945	Bella Montgomery
505800	LEMON GROVE	LEMON GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST	2515 LEMON GROVE AVE	LEMON GROVE	91945	Bella Montgomery
506500	LEMON GROVE	LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH	1345 SKYLINE DR	LEMON GROVE	91945	Bella Montgomery
546500	RAMONA	MAIN STREET CHURCH	825 MAIN ST	RAMONA	92065	Dave Patterson
546690	RAMONA	GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH	1234 BARGER PL	RAMONA	92065	Dave Patterson
546720	RAMONA	GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH	1234 BARGER PL	RAMONA	92065	Dave Patterson
546800	RAMONA	FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL	404 8TH ST	RAMONA	92065	Dave Patterson
546860	RAMONA	RAMONA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH	3394 CHAPEL LN	RAMONA	92065	Dave Patterson
546880	RAMONA	NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH	424 S LETTON ST	RAMONA	92065	Dave Patterson
548890	LAKESIDE	MAPLEVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH	13176 MAPLEVIEW ST	LAKESIDE	92040	Nell Bartusch
549400	LAKESIDE	WESLEYAN CHURCH OF LAKESIDE HALL	9455 LOS COCHES RD	LAKESIDE	92040	Nell Bartusch
554220	ALPINE	1 ST BAPTIST CHURCH OF THE WILLOWS	3520 ALPINE BLVD	ALPINE	91901	Bonnie Bekken
554320	ALPINE	QUEEN OF ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH	2569 VICTORIA DR	ALPINE	91901	Bonnie Bekken
554490	ALPINE	1ST BAPTIST CHURCH OF THE WILLOWS	3520 ALPINE BLVD	ALPINE	91901	Bonnie Bekken
554600	ALPINE	BETHEL ASSEMBLY CHURCH OF GOD	1929 ARNOLD WAY	ALPINE	91901	Bonnie Bekken
554610	ALPINE	1ST BAPT CHR OF ALPINE SANCTUARY	1912 ARNOLD WAY	ALPINE	91901	Bonnie Bekken
554830	ALPINE	ALPINE LUTHERAN CHURCH	2040 TAVERN RD	ALPINE	91901	Bonnie Bekken
557460	CREST	CREST COMMUNITY CHURCH HALL	2198 SUNCREST BLVD	EL CAJON	92021
558640	VALLE DE ORO	ST PETER CHALDEAN CATH CHURCH	1627 JAMACHA WAY	EL CAJON	92019	Rosalie Star
558680	VALLE DE ORO	ST PETER CHALDEAN CATH CHURCH	1627 JAMACHA WAY	EL CAJON	92019	Rosalie Star
558720	VALLE DE ORO	HILLSIDE CHURCH OF GOD	1101 S MOLLISON AVE, #A	EL CAJON	92020	Raymond Lutz	Precinct in sanctuary, right up at altar. No change from last year. Anza school has space and is only 1 block away.
558800	VALLE DE ORO	HILLSIDE CHURCH OF GOD	1101 S MOLLISON AVE, #A	EL CAJON	92020	Raymond Lutz	Precinct in rear of church sanctuary.
560000	RANCHO EL CAJON	SHADOW MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CHR	2100 GREENFIELD DR	EL CAJON	92019	Raymond Lutz
562900	JAMUL	ST PIUS X CHURCH	14107 LYONS VALLEY RD	JAMUL	91935
562910	JAMUL	ST PIUS X CHURCH	14107 LYONS VALLEY RD	JAMUL	91935

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.

-- Raymond Lutz - 04 Oct 2006