That may be what's happening in North Richland, Texas, where the Maplewood Baptist Fellowship was seen displaying a sign asking "Where's the Birth Certificate?" This is a "birther" message -- a message from people who haven't figured out yet that Barack Obama was born in the United States. Democrats took notice and are openly wondering if this church really should continue being used for voting in civil elections.
"I put it up to get people to ask questions, just to provoke thoughts and that's pretty much it," [Pastor Gary Hopkins ] said. "I do know there are a lot of people asking that question, and my understanding is that question has not been answered."
Local Democrats first noticed the sign last month. The Tarrant County Democratic Party posted a photo of the sign on its Web site with the message: "Do you feel comfortable with this being a polling location?"
Source: Forth Worth Star-Telegram
Churches, like any other polling site, can have political messages all year when people aren't voting -- they just have to take down those political message when they are being used as a polling site. Other places used for voting, like fire houses and schools, don't usually have controversial political messages. They also don't typically have religious messages, another problem with using churches like this.
There is a lot of value in using generally neutral places for voting: everyone can feel equally welcome, no one need feel any unnecessary or unusual pressures, and there shouldn't be any inappropriate political or religious influences. Even when churches remove their political signs, how likely is it that no one will remember or have in mind what sort of political position this church has adopted?
I read a recent study (can’t find it now) that said people are more likely to vote conservatively on “moral” issues when voting at a church, regardless of their political background. Same goes for schools. Schools used as polling places tend to carry more votes for school budget initiatives. I don’t think we fully understand the types of subliminal messages we receive when we stand in a church. Just because all of their blatant politicking is removed, doesn’t mean that the building and decorations don’t carry a political message, especially as the Christian Right continues to infiltrate our government and political parties. Would people be more likely to vote against an issue such as gay marriage rights, if they’re voting under a big crucifix? Would they be more likely to support a candidate with anti-abortion or pro-abstinence leanings, if they’re voting at a church? I think the answer is probably yes.
Big Blue Frog- If the study you mention has merit, then I wonder what kind of influence my local voting station has: it’s in the main hallway of a run- down and somewhat dilapitated strip mall surrounded by thrift stores, a bingo hall and bare storefronts.
This sort of influence is not limited to religion.
In my area (New York), our local school budgets are voted on at some of the schools. Often, the schools schedule events which include parents (i.e. evening assemblies, concerts) so they can boost voter turnout among those voting blocs who will likely vote for the budget. In a close election with typically low turnout, boosting the turnout this way is often the difference between passing a budget versus rejecting it.
I was once a Republican. In fact I was my precincts chairman. It was located in a Methodist church. There were never any problems.
I even posted the League of Women Voters review of issues outside the voting place for voters to read. And they did.
The minister was a Republican and a voter in the precinct. He hardly ever said anything during the precinct convention.
However, the Republican Party left me and others in 1992. I no longer participated in anything to do with the party because of the crazy religious nuts who had come in droves to the party.
They new nothing of our government. Didn’t now how laws were made and so on.
They had their own agenda and if you weren’t of their church you were ignored completely.
As for the church in north Texas, well having lived there, I can honestly say that minister knew exactly what he was posting.
Don’t be fooled for a second. These SOB’s are well informed. He knew exactly what he was doing.
At one time using a church or a place of worship as a polling place wasn’t a problem.
In this day and age, it is.
You also run the risk of having the precinct conventions influenced by the church members or not allowing them to work as they are supposed to, which is to allow the voter their input. I know of one case about 20 years ago when the Party platform was not discussed just rubber stamped.
People who were in attendance who were not new to the process were robbed of their rights to submit their ideas and suggestions.
Now while this instance was not based on a religious issue, it was one where it was politically motivated due to a candidate whose official residence was at that location.
BUT, that does not mean religion can and hasn’t been used to deny Americans their rights.
I’d move it out of the church pronto and take the teeth and wind out of that ten-for-a-penny preacher.