Schools as early voting sites

[Anonymous]

Schools are used for voting and the polls EVERYWHERE! It is not unique to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools are used for voting and the polls EVERYWHERE! It is not unique to DC.

Doesn't mean that we can't change it. Just because everyone's doing it doesn't mean that there can't be better options, given recent events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools are used for voting and the polls EVERYWHERE! It is not unique to DC.

I think at this point in time strangers should not be allowed in school buildings. Is it sad? Yes. But we as a country are okay with excessive gun violence so we should change the rules to protect our children. Also I’ve always though random strangers in a school building is dangerous.

[Anonymous]

The entire morning dropoff line at Lafayette got closed down for the voting site, in addition to no gym and no multipurpose room and a million other smaller inconveniences. As if kids haven't dealt with enough change and upheaval the past few years, this is how they had to end school? And it's not the school's fault, admin was LIVID about it. One day of voting, fine but 10 days of early voting just as school is ending?? Come on, BOE it's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools are used for voting and the polls EVERYWHERE! It is not unique to DC.

Doesn't mean that we can't change it. Just because everyone's doing it doesn't mean that there can't be better options, given recent events.

It would be a shame to do that. The connection between schools and voting is important. Not only does it center a neighborhood around the school it also teaches a good civics lesson to the students. I want my kids to have that civics lesson. Every election we take them with us to vote in person. At the same time it's a good way to keep non-parents and seniors in the neighborhood to feel welcome. To feel the school is theirs too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools are used for voting and the polls EVERYWHERE! It is not unique to DC.

Doesn't mean that we can't change it. Just because everyone's doing it doesn't mean that there can't be better options, given recent events.

It would be a shame to do that. The connection between schools and voting is important. Not only does it center a neighborhood around the school it also teaches a good civics lesson to the students. I want my kids to have that civics lesson. Every election we take them with us to vote in person. At the same time it's a good way to keep non-parents and seniors in the neighborhood to feel welcome. To feel the school is theirs too.

I agree, there is something comforting and connecting to walk to the ES with my little kids in tow, and vote.

[Anonymous]

I agree this is a bad idea from a security and logistic perspective. If it were just election day I would say well schools/parents can deal. But the early voting period is just to much. I hope people are giving their council an ear full about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm French. In France, voting always happens on Sundays (Saturdays for the expatriates living in other countries). That way, elementary schools are empty and available, and more importantly, VOTERS are free and available!

I don't understand why Americans do it on weekdays. Way to suppress the working vote!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm French. In France, voting always happens on Sundays (Saturdays for the expatriates living in other countries). That way, elementary schools are empty and available, and more importantly, VOTERS are free and available!

I don't understand why Americans do it on weekdays. Way to suppress the working vote!

It originally had to do with Sunday church, market days and travel. Now it has to do with partisan arguments over whether voting should be made easier or more difficult. Most Americans agree with you. It's the political parties that don't because they see short term advantages within the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The entire morning dropoff line at Lafayette got closed down for the voting site, in addition to no gym and no multipurpose room and a million other smaller inconveniences. As if kids haven't dealt with enough change and upheaval the past few years, this is how they had to end school? And it's not the school's fault, admin was LIVID about it. One day of voting, fine but 10 days of early voting just as school is ending?? Come on, BOE it's ridiculous.

And Lafayette Pointer Park Rec Center is a stone's throw away but was not suitable to BOE and Chevy Chase Rec Center is an early voting site and three blocks away. And the kicker is that people are not even doing early voting!

https://wtop.com/dc/2022/06/dc-election-where-are-the-voters/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree this is a bad idea from a security and logistic perspective. If it were just election day I would say well schools/parents can deal. But the early voting period is just to much. I hope people are giving their council an ear full about it.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools are used for voting and the polls EVERYWHERE! It is not unique to DC.

Doesn't mean that we can't change it. Just because everyone's doing it doesn't mean that there can't be better options, given recent events.

It would be a shame to do that. The connection between schools and voting is important. Not only does it center a neighborhood around the school it also teaches a good civics lesson to the students. I want my kids to have that civics lesson. Every election we take them with us to vote in person. At the same time it's a good way to keep non-parents and seniors in the neighborhood to feel welcome. To feel the school is theirs too.

So take your kids to vote with you. They aren’t getting much of a civic lessons by closing the gym and messing up drop off lines.

[Anonymous]

PP again but we can’t claim fear about violence in schools and then say they should be open to strangers because it shows kids civic engagement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools are used for voting and the polls EVERYWHERE! It is not unique to DC.

Doesn't mean that we can't change it. Just because everyone's doing it doesn't mean that there can't be better options, given recent events.

It would be a shame to do that. The connection between schools and voting is important. Not only does it center a neighborhood around the school it also teaches a good civics lesson to the students. I want my kids to have that civics lesson. Every election we take them with us to vote in person. At the same time it's a good way to keep non-parents and seniors in the neighborhood to feel welcome. To feel the school is theirs too.

So take your kids to vote with you. They aren’t getting much of a civic lessons by closing the gym and messing up drop off lines.

That's a school leadership failure then. The opportunity is there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again but we can’t claim fear about violence in schools and then say they should be open to strangers because it shows kids civic engagement.

Yes we can. It's about balancing risks and what we as a society hold important.

The connection between schools, community, and democracy is important and holds a lot of symbolism.