Election booths in schools draw concern

[Kadie]

Election booths in schools draw concern

The Associated Press


Last Updated: September 28, 2004, 09:11:00 AM PDT


HUDSON, Mass. (AP) - Dozens of parents have signed a petition asking town officials to remove election booths from schools out of concern for terrorism.

Sally Morgan cited the potential for terrorists to try to disrupt the Nov. 2 presidential election, as well as the school hostage crisis in Russia earlier this month in a petition sent to the town's Board of Selectmen.

The petition, signed by 125 parents, asks town officials to move polling places to more secure locations such as the town library, fire stations and churches.

snip...
"I think when fear and insecurity is introduced into Americans' everyday lives in something as simple and fundamental as this, it is a sad state of affairs," he said.

http://www.modbee.com/24hour/politics/story/1691923p-9474848c.html

[Cocoa]

1. I don't think these people are thinking straight

was the Beslan school a polling place?

[Endangered Specie]

2. Soon there wont be ANY polls in Russia, anywhere.

[Tempest]

4. That's not the point

The point is that the school will have people coming onto the grounds on November 3rd without any precautions, which increases the chance of an unfortunate situation.

During a normal school day, most schools have security guards who will question anyone who looks like they don't belong. They won't be able to do that on election day.

I personally agree with this.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Really, they won't be able to do that?

So, all of a sudden, the security will have to just magically disappear?

I don't know how it is in your town, but in the places I've lived and voted, which have all been in schools, the school sets aside one area for voting, with exists to the outside. Whoever wants to come in and vote can, but if anyone were to try to go through a door intot he school proper, they'd be stopped. Absolutely.

Jeezus, the way people think nowadays.

[Tempest]

11. I vote in an elementary school

You have to cross the campus, enter a hallway passing by classrooms and go into a section of the cafeteria in order to get to the voting room.

Yes there is security, but they don't interfer in any way.

[markdd]

13. People coming to vote on Nov 3

bothers me more than anything else in these posts.

[Parche]

3. terra

Oh for F-IN %$&^#$@^#$^*^%*(%*&$% sake
what is with America and the fear of terra
I am so tired of hearing of terra, Iraq
how they are going to try and screw up our election
hell they did it in 2000 in Florida.

[Ready4Change]

5. Irrational paranoia.

Schools close for elections. Bombs at voting locations therefore wont hurt kids.

This is the so called "Security Moms" demonstrating just how insecure they are.

[Tempest]

12. "Schools close for elections" - No they don't

I've voted at a school for the last 4 years and it hasn't closed not once on an election day.

[dansolo]

20. Perhaps they should be

I never understood why election day isn't just declared a national federal holiday.

[Tempest]

21. I agree

A national holiday for national elections has been talked about and is starting to pick up steam.

I fully expect a national holiday will be incorporated into the elections in time for the 2008 elections.

[donco6]

24. The last thing we need is yet ANOTHER

day when the kids aren't in school. One day off in a week disrupts the entire week's lessons. They get ansty in anticipation; they take days to settle down. We only have them for about 180 days in a year, less fall break, spring break, Christmas/New Years break, Outdoor Ed. week, all the other holidays, staff development days, parent/teacher conference days, etc. etc. I say NO.

But that's just me.

[noamnety]

15. that's not true

there were elections at the school where I work today, as it happens. And we were open.

But it makes you wonder why anyone is supporting Bush for making us safer, when for the first time ever they have such serious concerns about our safety. Is it possible that bombing random ME countries doesn't make us safer at home?

[Ready4Change]

17. Really? My bad.

Every where I've lived thus far in my short life schools have always had no classes on election days. Maybe not so for minor elections, but definitely for any presidential, congressional or senatorial race.

If this is not so nationally, I apologize to those in regions where elections are held while school is in session.

[displacedtexan]

6. I'm sure Hudson, Mass. is a major terror target...

on planet
OH RIGHT SURE!

[BiggJawn]

7. I got a BETTER idea!

Just cancel the fucking elections. There, no elections, nothing for Al-Ka-Seltzah to hit (they'd NEVER think to hit our Holy of Holies, Wal-Mart, would they?)

<heavy sarcasm>

So, Sally Morgan is one of those "Security Moms" I heard about the other day?
"It doesn't matter what the Minimum Wage is, if the building your job is in gets BLOWN UP!!!"

Durant has it right, it *IS* a "sad state of affairs"....

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. That's just fucking stupid

a) Like Hudson, Mass is gonna be a prime target for terraists

b) why give in to such irrational and stupid fear? Every styupid assinine assmucnhing idea like this just makes the terraists laugh at us because their shit is working.

The public school in my nehigborhood in Harlem (in Manhattan) never closed down as a polling place. And, hopefully, never will.

Sheesh.

Bunch of mentally deficient shitheads in that town.

[LibDemAlways]

10. For the last 25 years my polling

place has been the cafeteria of my local public elementary school. School is always in session on election day. This is a quiet residential community with a virtually nil crime rate. It would be absolutely ridiculous to move the polling place, and my suggestion to anyone who would try would be to get a grip.

[JoFerret]

14. And it would mean the kids

...wouldn't get a day off!
This hyper terra paranoia is crazy and Bush-wise very self-serving.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. There must be some schools that close on election day

Ready4Change and JoeFerret both mentioned it.

I've never been in a place in which the schools closed. Where are you guys that election day is a school holiday?

lucky stiffs. I never got a day off for voting. :-(

[Jokerman]

18. I work in a school and this is a bunch of crap.

The polling place is directly below my office in a main floor hallway. We already have security cameras, safety patrols and city cops in our parking lot most of the time, election or not. The biggest danger here is having to park in the same lot as some of the crazy teenage drivers (and even crazier parents).

The church where my precinct votes however has no security beyond the elderly couple who stand at the door.

Since Columbine, schools are some of the most secure public buildings you will find.

[davidinalameda]

19. this is the damn dumbest thing I've ever heard of

the paranoia level in this country is amazing

[sadiesworld]

22. Attempt to depress voter turnout.

Unfortunately, I imagine we will see more stories like this. :mad:

[Kadie]

23. I think you may be right.

Others will follow.