Posted on 08/13/2008 7:21:43 PM PDT by JavaJumpy
More central Ohio school districts plan to close Nov. 4 to safeguard students and accommodate voters, but elections officials are divided over whether that's a good idea.
Today, the Franklin County Board of Elections is to weigh whether to ask the Columbus schools to cancel classes on Election Day.
The 54,000-student district is nicknamed the "Big Domino," a spokesman said, because others generally follow when Columbus calls a snow day. Deputy Elections Director Matt Damschroder is counting on that to set the trend and clear out space for voters in schools countywide.
"Schools are not built for voting," Damschroder said, noting security concerns when he proposed the idea to elections board members last week. "It's the only day when public and private schools throw open the doors and let everyone come in."
But board members William A. Anthony Jr. and Doug Preisse, who respectively lead the Franklin County Democratic and Republican parties, both said elections offer schoolchildren a civics lesson.
"I don't think we want to tell schools how to run their business," Anthony said. But "I think they ought to stay open so kids can see democracy in progress."
In past elections, voters have complained that they couldn't find parking - or got tickets when they did.
Others gripe about dodging kids changing classes or that voting machines are wedged into tight spaces, including hallways.
"This year, with an estimated 80 percent turnout, we're going to have a problem on Election Day," Damschroder said.
Anthony agreed that parking could be a mess if 600,000 county residents show up to vote, as expected.
At least six central Ohio suburban districts - Bexley, Dublin, Groveport, Reynoldsburg, Westerville and Worthington - have called off school on Election Day.
(Excerpt) Read more at columbusdispatch.com ...
Why is voting held in schools??
That is just weird. What is going on in Ohio?
We do it in churches, community buildings, libraries etc.
You do not need schools... That is really idiotic.
Count your blessings. We’re about to go all mail, a system ripe for corruption. (For all I vote by mail anyway, due to frequent business travel.)
Parking and crowds not a problem just put polls in the cemeteries that way many of the voters won’t need to drive.
I have read about snow days in a book.
Ohio doesn’t have early voting?
BWAHHAHAHHAA..... that was great.
I read about snow days once, too. I was at the beach surfin'.
The elementary school I was attending in the early 80’s was a polling place. Every school in town was, in fact. It never caused any problems, as most people voted either before or after school was in session and turnout during the day was low.
Among other places, Texas uses schools.
I live in Columbus. My polling place now is a church. But I have voted in a grocery store. You read that correctly. A Kroger in Hilliard, Ohio. It’s done all the time here.
I’ve voted in schools in two states now...they just don’t have gym class on election day.
My voting place is in a church and I know of two more that are lso located in churches here in this county in Ohio.
its all about having the teachers out making phone calls, carting voters around, standing on the sidewalks with signs....
its the teachers, again....
I used to live next to a grade school. The kids were off on Fridays more often than not. It is ridiculous.
Yes, they do - and they’re opening up a large venue downtown to help accommodate the early voting crowds.
The teacher’s union controls most school districts. This union and the other labor unions are taking the day off to get out the Obama vote.
Here in Wisconsin the cheaters can register on voting days and vote. The Democrat operatives give them rides, smokes and a free chicken dinner after they leave the polling places. If you want $20, take your absentee ballot to the local Democrat committeeman or alderman’s office, mark it appropriately and hand it over for them to mail.
“More central Ohio school districts plan to close Nov. 4 to safeguard students and accommodate voters”
And to free up the NEA union voters.
ALL employers are required to permit employees time off (unpaid) to go vote on election day.
A good number of dead people on the voter rolls will be mailing in their ballots.
You vote is only tallied when a race is close, just so you know.
Well, if it arrives after election day (even though it could have a genuine postmark mailing before election day).
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