ICC Note: The Freedom from Religion Foundation, an atheist activist group, recently issued letters to state that places of worship should not be used as polling places for elections. In light of today’s national election in the United States, the group stated that the use of churches and other religious facilities can influence voters and make non-religious voters feel uncomfortable. The group requested that the counties that were contacted move their polling places to secular facilities, but it is unclear if either county intends to reply.

By Heather Clark

11/07/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – A professing atheist and agnostic group that works to separate Church and State has sent letters to two municipalities to express its belief that houses of worship shouldn’t be polling places.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) recently wrote to officials in Palm Beach County, Florida and Washington County, Arkansas to outline its views.

“As our country becomes more religiously diverse, Christian images and iconography are increasingly seen by many as symbols of political intimidation,” it wrote to the Washington County Election Commission, noting that 16 of 17 polling places in the county are churches.

“Selecting churches as polling places can serve to unduly influence voters to vote in a particular way that they might not otherwise,” the letter continued. “This is especially true if the voters themselves are promoting or demonizing a particular side of an issue.”

FFRF said that non-believers might also feel intimidated in viewing religious messages on display at houses of worship as it could cause them to sense that they are outsiders.

In Palm Beach County, local citizens had complained about the Islamic Center of Boca Raton being used as a polling place, resulting in the location being changed. But FFRF says that the government shouldn’t use any religious facilities at all for elections.

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