Why Churches Shouldn’t Be Used As Polling Places

Drive by some churches on election day, any election day—primary, general, or runoff, and you will see a strange sight. Among all the signs imploring you to vote for a particular political candidate or ballot initiative will be found another sign that says “Vote Here” or “Precinct X” or “Polling Place.”

This practice of churches letting their county governments use their facilities as polling places is a shame, an embarrassment, and a disgrace.

I blogged about this disgraceful practice at least twice during the last election cycle (see here and here). Due to some sincere questions about my condemnation of this disgraceful practice, I want to explain in more detail why churches shouldn’t be used as polling places. War, Empire, and the M... Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $5.24 Buy New $9.79 (as of 09:10 UTC - Details)

We know that elections in this country at the national, state, and local levels are a sham. The Democratic and Republican Parties have the system rigged to prevent or make it almost impossible for minor or third parties to even get on the ballot. There is not a dime’s worth of difference between the two major parties. The only way to vote against crook D and crook R is to not vote. Statistically, you have more of a chance of getting in a car accident on the way to vote than your vote counting for anything. Voting, in the words of Lew Rockwell, is “the sacrament of the State religion.” Voting, as I have said many times, for the lesser of two evils (meaning voting Republican) is still evil.

I like what H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) said about voting:

Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

There’s really no point to voting. If it made any difference, it would probably be illegal. War, Christianity, and... Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $8.95 Buy New $9.95 (as of 09:10 UTC - Details)

And especially what he said about government:

Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.

I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a waste of time.

But enough about voting or not voting. I want to focus on why churches shouldn’t be used as polling places. What I have to say is true regardless of whether individual Christians vote or don’t vote.

First of all, a church is not being an enemy of the community if it does not allow its facilities to be used as a polling place. Doing so is strictly a voluntary thing, and not all churches do it, although I am sure that more would if they had larger facilities. No one drives The War on Drugs Is a ... Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $5.87 Buy New $5.95 (as of 09:10 UTC - Details) by a church on election day and thinks that the church is an enemy of the community if no one is there voting. Many voters would probably think it perfectly reasonable that a church was not a polling place on election day. If a church really wanted to show itself a friend of the community, there are many other ways to do so without turning the church into a polling place on election day. A church could advertise that all in the community are welcome to attend church services—and then preach the gospel to them, operate a food pantry to give away food to the needy—and a New Testament along with the food, offer English lessons to those whose first language is not English—and have them memorize Bible verses, provide free day care for single mothers in the community—and teach their children to sing Christian hymns.

Second, inviting the county government to use the church’s facilities as a polling place is an unnecessary, impious, ungodly, avoidable, unholy, and sacrilegious union of church and state. Churches should do everything in their power to keep government and its bureaucrats away from the church, and especially if the church operates a Christian school.

Third, most conservative churches consider it a grave sin for someone to vote for a Democrat or for a candidate who is pro-abortion. King James, His Bible,... Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $2.07 Buy New $56.00 (as of 08:30 UTC - Details) Allowing the church to be used as a polling place means that the church is allowing sin to take place on its property that it could have easily prevented. Those who argue that some voters will vote for pro-abortion Democrats anyway regardless of where they vote so what difference does it make would never make that excuse for someone to smoke a joint or entertain a hooker in his car on the church property.

Fourth, speaking of hookers, since politicians are whores, doing favors for money, wouldn’t churches that help facilitate such a relationship be pimps?

Fifth, if a church is used as a polling place, there will be scores of political signs placed on the church property for people to see as they drive into the church parking lot to go and vote. Many conservative churches consider Obama to practically be the devil incarnate. Yet, in the 2008 and 2012 elections, there were Obama signs on their property. Even in elections now, what many evangelicals consider to be the devils party—the Democratic Party—will have signs for their candidates on the church property. Most conservative churches wouldn’t allow a Democrat’s political sign within a hundred feet of the church property if they could help it. So why does election day suddenly make this all right? The Other Side of Calv... Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $19.84 Buy New $29.95 (as of 08:35 UTC - Details)

And sixth, it is wrong to think that a church could get away with letting a county government use its facilities as a polling place in order to send a message to voters—although this would be the only reason for a church to be used as a polling place that would be somewhat legitimate. Imagine people coming to vote being confronted with signs posted in the church that said:

“ ‘Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness’ Like All of Those Political Television Ads”

“Abortion Is Murder”

“You Are an Idiot If You Vote Democratic”

”The Wicked Shall Be Turned into Hell”

“Why Are You Bothering to Vote?”

“Righteousness Exalteth a Nation”

“Politicians Are Crooks”

“Jesus Is the Only Way”

“Vote to End Obamacare”

County election officials would immediately force the signs to be removed.

But, of course, even the most moderate of signs would not be allowed. During the last election, a church in George Township, Michigan, found this out. The church, Georgetown Bible Church, which is a polling place, posted a sign outside the church that said simply “Vote Biblically.” Election officials in Ottawa County received numerous complaints about the sign, but determined that it was “far enough from the church that it didn’t violate election laws.” Georgetown Township officials “asked the church to consider changing the sign out of consideration for those who complained.”

Is your church used as a polling place? You might want to ask your pastor or church leaders to reconsider this disgraceful practice.