{"id":5245,"date":"2020-09-17T09:57:49","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T14:57:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=5245"},"modified":"2020-09-17T09:57:49","modified_gmt":"2020-09-17T14:57:49","slug":"churches-as-polling-places","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/churches-as-polling-places\/","title":{"rendered":"Churches as polling places"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to data<\/a> presented by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, over 230,000 polling places were used in 2018. Less than 1% of those were located at election offices. Most were at schools, community centers… and churches.<\/p>\n

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The need<\/h5>\n

\"\"<\/a>Experience during primary elections in our nation have led some to conclude more polling places are needed before the November 3, 2020 general election. Myrna Perez, director of the voting rights and elections program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, is quoted in an AP news article<\/a> saying, “In the best of times, really long lines are deterring and disenfranchising. In the time of the coronavirus, long lines can be deadly.”<\/p>\n

Several ELCA congregations have opened their facilities as polling places in previous elections. Is this a way your congregation wants to steward its building in 2020?<\/strong> State laws govern where polling places can be located, but ELCA Legal and Risk Assessment colleagues also have some advice to share on churches serving as polling locations.<\/p>\n

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Some considerations<\/h5>\n

Before your church responds to a request or steps out to offer to be a polling place, key issues must be considered in addition to operating by COVID-19 guidelines and mandates: (1) accessibility<\/strong>, (2) security<\/strong>, and (3&4) insurance\/liability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

(1) If the municipality uses the church as a polling place, it should be accessible<\/strong>.\u202fOfficials should make an accessibility determination in the portion of the building and parking lot being used for voting. Additionally, it is always a good idea to inventory the property for safety hazards.<\/p>\n

(2) If the church has a preschool, school or similar activity in the building that is still open, security<\/strong> steps must be taken to make sure that there is separation between the operating school and parts of the building accessible to the public.\u202fFor example, voters may be directed to a specific door and part of the building but not be allowed access to the other portion.\u202fSome churches just close the school for election day (like many public schools do).<\/p>\n

(3) Make sure the congregation\u2019s insurance<\/strong> carrier is aware of the facility\u2019s use as a polling place to assure coverage if something happens.\u202fThe aforementioned safety hazards inventory of the area being made accessible to the public can be assuring.<\/p>\n

(4) Proof of insurance for a location as a polling place should be available from the voting authority.<\/p>\n