[Celtjew Libertarian]

Of course, if the polling places were limited to non-religious sites, the same people would be complaining of lack of voter access.

Churches are chosen because they are among the most easily accessible locations -- large rooms, good parking lots, and in most areas of town.

I just checked. I live in a county centered on a major university. Of the approx. 70 polling places in the county, about 40 are churches. Good luck finding 40 non-religious sites to replace them.

[sakic]

So mosques would be just fine too then?

[CFC__VRWC]

In many rural areas of the country, (like mine), churches are about the only buildings around that qualify as public places. I vote at a Baptist church just down the road from my house. We used to vote at a volunteer fire station down the road, but the firemen sort of drifted away and the county ended up closing it several years ago. Other than a couple of restaurants, bars and convenience stores, ther's nowhere else within at least five miles where large numbers of people can gather to vote. What are we supposed to do, just vote on a street corner somewhere? That could work most of the time here in Florida (assuming it's not raining), but in someplace like Massachussetts the poll workers are going to get awfully cold sitting outdoors for 12 hours in November.