New York – Polling Site For Jews At A Church Prompts Hikind To Intervene

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    New York – Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has intervened to prevent a polling site at St. Agatha’s Church. Residents living in the 73rd and 74th election districts recently received notification from the Brooklyn Board of Elections that their polling site was moved from the local public school to St. Agatha’s Church because of concerns that the public school could not physically accommodate all those wishing to cast a ballot. Many observant Jews live in the 73rd and 74th election districts. Hikind visited the site personally and noted that large crosses were present on both the interior and exterior of the building, as were other “related items you’d expect to find in a Catholic institution.”

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    As the primary for Civil Court Judge is scheduled for September 13, a new site could not be immediately identified. In the interim, Assemblyman Dov Hikind has obtained special ballots which will allow affected voters to cast their vote in-person at the Brooklyn Board of Elections by selecting the “Religious Scruples” box. Under Election Law Section 11-300, one may cast a special ballot if it is against one’s “religious scruples to vote at a polling place located in a premises used for religious purposes.”

    “Who knows how many Orthodox Jewish or other voters would have been disenfranchised by the Board of Elections’ decision to move these voters to a church?” Hikind asked.

    Hikind is working with the Board of Elections to find a more suitable location for the general election in November. The Board of Elections will mail updated polling site notices to affected voters once a new location is found.

    To obtain a ballot, please visit the Office of Assemblyman Hikind or contact his office at 718.853.9616 to have one mailed to you. Special ballots must be cast in person at the Brooklyn Board of Elections no earlier than one week before the election, and not later than the close of polls on Primary Day.


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    24 Comments
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    5TResident
    Noble Member
    5TResident
    12 years ago

    When I lived in Kew Gardens Hills, I sometimes had to vote at a Catholic school located near my house. It was no big deal to me, I just ignored all of the icons. Let them have their avoda zara, I want to vote!

    shvigger
    shvigger
    12 years ago

    I don’t know about a catholic high school, but it is assur to enter a church.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    There are many polling locations in New York City located at shuls so why shouldn’t yidden be willing to vote at a church. If the goyim have to go to a shul to cast their ballots, why are we saying we cannot go to a church since the intent is obviously to vote and not to engage in avodah zorah.

    concerned_Jew
    concerned_Jew
    12 years ago

    I don’t believe they were thinking anything when they did it. To most people, a church is a perfectly fine place to meet, vote, whatever. They didn’t even realize that some people might feel uncomfortable there. The church to them is l’havdil like a shul to us. A place where they feel comfortable, at home.

    12 years ago

    Thank you Dov, as usual

    Member
    12 years ago

    I suppose you can vote absentee ballot. I have a place to vote and it is a methodist church I think. I never get evangelized and I only think about the voting when I am there. For a breif second the fact that it is a church passes in my thoughts. I am not stigmatized and I do not fear for my position as a Jew in this universe by going to this church. But in brooklyn that could certainly be a different story.

    Materetsky
    Materetsky
    12 years ago

    Not sure if this is true, but I once heard that there is no halachic issue with voting inside a church. It is clear to all taht you are entering to vote istead of attending a service.
    I don’t think the issue is the crosses being present. For example, you can ride in a cab even in the driver has statues of saints on the dashboard, which isn’t an incredible rarity. I was in a car a few weeks ago with a hindu god hanging from the mirror. I told my rabbi and he said it was okay to ride in the car. I think the issue is the practice of avodah zara. For sure we cannot bow to the crosses, or attend any sort of religious service. But I don’t think that when you enter to vote and it’s clear that you are voting that there is an issue.
    That being said, I can still see why many people wouldn’t want to enter anyway. It’s still very uncomfortable.

    Baltokayer
    Baltokayer
    12 years ago

    Rav Shimon Schwab ZT”L of KAJ paskened that it was permitted to vote in a Church Social Hall, but not in the sanctuary. The particular building was an Episcopalian one, not a Catholic one.

    Baltokayer
    Baltokayer
    12 years ago

    Rav Shimon Schwab ZT”L of KAJ paskened that it was permitted to vote in an Episcopalian church social hall which was on a floow below the sanctuary.

    enlightened-yid
    enlightened-yid
    12 years ago

    Yes, if you walk into a building with a cross on it to vote, you may have a heart attack or cause an earthquake. Can these politicians deal with something more pressing?

    shvigger
    shvigger
    12 years ago

    Not all non-Jewish places of worship are assur to enter. A Mosque, for instance, may be entered because Islam is not idolatry. A church is another matter entirely.

    my4amos
    my4amos
    12 years ago

    My polling place is in a public school. Not crazy about churches, but any public school is that much worse! It is frequented by so called teachers who are actually nothing more than teachers union members from whom that awful smell of liberalism and immorality emanates…

    Tzi_Bar_David
    Tzi_Bar_David
    12 years ago

    My polling place is often at a Methodist church….the booths are not in the actual “church sanctuary part” … with the pews, idolatry and other assorted avoda szara, but in the social hall immediately adjacent. There are a few crosses and pictures hanging around, but I think it’s going a stretch to claim to be “offended.” The people who run the church are trying to be civic minded by opening their institution to the public for this important democratic process.