Black Voter Forced to Swear on Bible Before Casting Vote in Mid-Term Election

[BradBlog]

Source: BRAD BLOG



Philadelphia 'Freedom': Voter Forced to Swear on Bible Before Casting Vote in Mid-Term Election

"did anyone else have to swear on a bible that their address was correct before they were able to vote? just wondering, because i did," Philadelphia voter Lindsay Granger wrote on her blog after voting in last Tuesday's mid-term election. "i had to lay my palm on the good book and state my name and address before i was allowed to sign my name in the voting log and enter the booth. they called it an affirmation. i call it creepy… and a little offensive…"

Granger notified VotersUnite.org last week after the incident which, she told the non-partisan election watchdog organization, made her "extremely uncomfortable because i'm not a Christian, and when i brought that up I was told to do it anyway."

In her blog item, Granger, an African-American, admitted to being "hypersensitive" given "the historical context of black people voting in america".

When informed of the incident, Bob Lee, the Voter Registration Administrator for the Philadelphia City Commissioners, confirmed to The BRAD BLOG that Bibles are, indeed, included in the package of election materials provided to each polling site, but says no such oath is required before casting a vote.

The incident reportedly took place at Philadelphia's Ward 15, Division 01 polling place at Trinity Baptist Church on Poplar Street. It was Granger's first time voting at that precinct after having moved recently from another area in the city.

Lee conceded that, based on Granger's description of the incident --- which he hadn't heard about until we contacted him for comment --- it sounded like the election board at the precinct "needs some training"...

FULL STORY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8190


Read more: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8190

[arcane1]

1. "no such oath is required" but "Bibles are, indeed, included"

Am I missing something? Why are bibles included in the package of election materials provided to each polling site?? :shrug:

[ixion]

4. that was my thought as well...

including them is a violation of the Separation of Church and State.

[cstanleytech]

12. Well considering the polling place was

Trinity Baptist Church a complete separation might be a tad difficult.

[lame54]

69. don't they already have a bible?

[rgbecker]

39. Why not include a gun in the 'Election package.' Certainly more "American".

[Rozlee]

40. Damn. 54 years old and your comment just sank it into me...

Why do we even have to be sworn in at testimonies in courthouses with a bible? All courthouses regardless of whether they're municipal, county or federal receive some fed dollars. It just seems like it would violate Separation laws, too. Bad enough that I had to mumble through the "so help me gawd" portion of my oath of enlistment in the military. Thank Cthulhu there were over a dozen of us saying it or I might have had to really co-opted big time.

[dixiegrrrrl]

46. You can opt for "affirmation" in court, or at least some courts.

Some courts provide option for "Do you affirm ............" with no Bible used.

[msanthrope]

49. As you can in Philly--clearly, the election workers need a retrain. n/t

[Sirveri]

61. You are no longer required to say so help me god in the oath of enlistment.

At least that's what I was told when I enlisted in 2005

[happyslug]

63. The Military oath is a slight variation of the Presidential oath

And in NEITHER case is the word "So help me God" required, but in the case of Presidents every President has followed President Washington's example and added "So help me God" to the oath.

Article six of the US Constitution that requires an oath to Support the US Constitution:
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Article6

The Presidential Oath is listed in the last Paragraph of Article 1, Section 2 of the US Constitution:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec1

[msanthrope]

48. No, it's not--

If there is a person whose identity or address is in doubt, they are required to swear or affirm the truth of their ballot.

Some people swear, and some affirm. The Bible is useful for the swearers.

[ixion]

54. The bible is a religious icon

therefore, it most certainly is.

[msanthrope]

58. The Bible is for the voter, who also has the option of affirming, like most courts.

It's a means for oath-taking, and provided as a convenience...

Personally, I think it ought to be scrapped, and affirmations taken, or, the BOE should include a Koran, a copy of a Dawkins tome, etc....

[KansDem]

11. Maybe some shorter voters need something to stand on in order to see the voting screen?

Just a guess...:shrug:

[jmowreader]

28. It's very simple.

It's so Republicans will have one handy when they need to pray for Jesus to make the voters forget all the things Republicans claim are wrong with the nation, are things Republicans did in the first place.

[npk]

37. I know many polling places at churches

That often have bibles placed on the tables that are used to verify voter status and registration, all though I have never once seen anybody have to swear an affirmation with them. Of course as Christian-centric this nation has become I'm not surprised that something like this could occur. I would be more concerned as to what these people are doing with paper ballots though, when you consider that the polling official in this story all but admitted these people are unqualified.

[glinda]

45. Churches should not be polling places at all

[npk]

55. Unfortunately in many areas of the country

Especially rural areas, all though I realize in this case it was Philly, there aren't many other alternatives that wouldn't cause a disruption.

It used to be when I was younger they would hold elections at schools, and they would dismiss school for that day. I remember my parents voting at a fire station that was down the road from our house. But I understand how you feel. I know a lot of people that get very uncomfortable voting in churches.

[msanthrope]

59. As a poll watcher in Philly, I went to churches, a deli, a funeral home,

private homes, a condo club room, and a fire house.

Yes--all were polling places.

[npk]

60. I wish I lived in Philly

Out where I live there is a small church down the road, that is it. All though to be fair I have never had a problem.

[SharonAnn]

38. Why not the Book of Mormon, The Q'uran, etc.?

[tblue37]

66. A plate of spaghetti. nt

[xxqqqzme]

43. I been a poll worker for special,

mid terms and general elections. I have attended training classes, watched the DVDs and read the manuals. I have set up machines; sealed the ballot box and signed the tape; put up polling place signs and arrows; read ballots to people who forgot their glasses; unpacked the election box and put it back together after the polls close. I have never seen a bible inside a polling place much less inside the sealed and delivered election box.

But then I'm in California.

[npk]

57. You are in a godless area of the country

Obviously. :-) Just kidding.

[msanthrope]

47. Bible and a flag--in Philly, you are supposed to swear, or affirm

if there is some doubt as to your address.

I was a poll watcher in Philly this election--she should have been allowed to 'affirm' that her address was correct.

[enlightenment]

2. They don't need 'training'.

They need to be removed from the board and kicked to the curb.

Why are Bibles part of the package of election materials, anyway?

[mikelgb]

3. uhm WTF?:

"When informed of the incident, Bob Lee, the Voter Registration Administrator for the Philadelphia City Commissioners, confirmed to The BRAD BLOG that Bibles are, indeed, included in the package of election materials provided to each polling site..."

Why the FUCK does every polling place need a fucking bible?

[immoderate]

5. Eighty-six the bibles -- save $$ on the training.

If they don't have bibles, they can't make that mistake. I wonder what else they send that they're not supposed to use.

--imm

[rasputin1952]

6. "needs some training"...understatement of the decade...

Why a bible would be included in the first place is questionable. I was a Poll Worker in AZ and we never even contemplated such action. And why this particualr individual...get rid of that entire Election Board...that is really a terrible experience in a polling place.

[rhett o rick]

7. Sounds like a breach of separation of church and state. Were they Old Testament or New? nm

[No Elephants]

30. Doesn't matter. First amendment is not only for Christians and/or Jews.

[rhett o rick]

50. Sorry I was making two separate points. Both badly.

1. It sounds like a problem with separation of church and state.

2. How would they decide which bible to provide? Or why not a Koran?

[Glorfindel]

8. They sent Bibles to Trinity Baptist Church?

How extremely interesting. Perhaps the Trinity Baptists didn't have any of their own...
Things aren't that bad even here in the Holy Christian Kingdom of Darkest Mississippi.

[laughingliberal]

9. Racist Pigs. nm

[rhett o rick]

52. Christian terrorists. nm

[defendandprotect]

10. Trust the voter will be suing .... ??? When fascism comes it will be waving FLAG and BIBLE ...!!!

[florida08]

16. that was my thought..lol

[Lochloosa]

13. Why are bibles included in the package of election materials?

[BradBlog]

17. See the full article for explanation of that (you can decide how good it is) n/t

[bongbong]

14. Precautions

In this day and age, Liberals must ALWAYS carry a fully-charged cell phone WITH a camera WITH video capabilities. There is just too much fascism starting.

[John Kerry VonErich]

15. I don't know if I believe it

sounds very far fetched and pot-stirring

[BradBlog]

18. Was confirmed by the head of Voter Registration in Philly. What do u not beleieve?? n/t

[msanthrope]

51. I was a Philly poll watcher---Bibles, and a mini flag are included.

But poll workers are supposed to know that affirming, sans Bible, is perfectly acceptable.

[RedCloud]

19. She should swear like this: Goddamn this fucking bullshit operation!

[sweetapogee]

20. it sounds like

this Bob Lee character has some splainin to do. I think we should contact the Mayor and request his immediate dismissal.

In my (PA) district, we had this man attempt to vote 15 minutes before the polls closed. He said that he lives in Lehigh County and his car broke down earlier in the day and being it's late and he's in Carbon County, he would not be able to get home to vote before the polls closed. So he wanted to vote in Carbon County on something he called an emergency ballot.

The poll judge called the county elections board and was told that the man was not registered in Carbon. Another problem is that the ballot is different (we are in a different congressional district) and state representative is also not the same. So, the judge told this voter that he couldn't vote in our district. Apparently in an emergency you can vote at a different polling place than your usual if it is in the same county and you get a provisional ballot. This is what people who just moved out of the district but haven't either changed their registration or didn't get their new card in the mail in time.

[BradBlog]

70. To be fair...

To be fair, Bob Lee was *very* responsive to my questions, even over the weekend. He was also very concerned about the bible being used to swear in a voter. So I wouldn't call for his dismissal, though the election worker in question is a different matter entirely.

The larger issue, I would suggest, is why the hell a bible is even supplied with election materials in the first place. That, as well, was not Bob Lee's call, as they have been supplied in each pack of election materials in Philly "for ages" as he confirmed.

The folks to change that, I'd suspect, would be the City Administrators in Philadelphia, as the bibles, as far as I can tell, are not statutory or needed in any way for anything. Folks can "affirm" as well as "swear", and they don't need to use a bible for either of them.

[Roland99]

21. I'd have put my phone into camcorder mode, spit on the book and tell them to shove it up their asses

[rfranklin]

22. I would not want to use the phone after it was shoved up there...

very, very unsanitary!

[Roland99]

25. I meant the book would have been shoved up there!

:)

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. Is some states, it is illegal to use a camera in a polling place

I know it is in Florida, but I am not sure about PA.

[Roland99]

29. 2 wrongs would right a wrong in this case

;-)

[leftynyc]

23. This story is repulsive enough, however,

I find it equally appalling that this person didn't realize she could have told the election worker to go fuck him/herself and go ahead and vote.

[Zephie]

24. Wait! Why the bleeping bleep are bibles included in election material packets in the first place?!

That in itself is wrong! Separation of Church and State my ass, that's completely evident of a state endorsed religion, even if it's not a requirement to be used.

Fascist America is here.

[msanthrope]

53. For swearing that your ballot is true and correct if challenged.

You can also affirm, sans Bible.

[Joe Chi Minh]

26. Thank goodness they're not equipped with tasers. I wonder how the individal concerned would have

reacted if Ms Granger had asked her, "Are you a Christian? I don't want to be swearing on a Bible held by a non-believer... Will you swear on this Bible that you are a Christian?"

[No Elephants]

31. Philadephia, PA, foflks. Not Midland TX. Not even what some call "Pennslytucky." Philly, under a

Dem Governor.

wow.

[awoke_in_2003]

41. That shocked me, too. nt

[stormpilot]

32. And just like that she went ahead and did it?!

Not this girl. I'd be so in their faces over it and call their BS right then and there. It'd have been one hell of a scene if they'd tried that on me!!

[Moonwalk]

33. Funny. At my Polling place a driver's license is good enough....

[No Elephants]

34. Good story. Government needs to stop asking people to swear on Bibles, period, Incl. Presidents.

[AsahinaKimi]

35. Gee its a good thing they didn't ask me..

Being Buddhist, I wonder if they would even allow me to VOTE?

[awoke_in_2003]

42. Well, GHW Bush felt...

that atheists shouldn't be considered citizens.

[tblue37]

67. Well, Daddy Bush said in one interview that non-Christians couldn't really be

good citizens or patriots. Really!

[go west young man]

36. What do we expect from a country that votes in the fucking church?

One more reason to get back to separating church and state completely.

[happyslug]

64. In Pennsylvania we have ALWAYS voted in Churches, and any other public buildings

Churches are often the biggest, public building NOT in use on a Tuesday, thus are often used as voting places in Pennsylvania. In the many Churches I have voted in, the voting NEVER took place in the chapel or the Church proper, but in the basement where a public hall existed. It is the HALL that the voting take place, not a church chapel. Fire stations are used the same way (Through this is often in the station area where the fire engines are kept).

As a Judge who had to find Voting locations told me years ago, it had to be wheelchair accessible, in the Voting District, near place for people to walk to AND to park their cars. Schools are always the First choice, Fire and Police Stations are second, other Government buildings, and then churches. Private Stores generally are NOT available on Tuesdays and you want a building that is heated. If you do NOT have one of the above in the Voting District, the next largest set of Buildings NOT used on Tuesdays, wheelchair accessible, easy to walk to, AND have parking for Voters are churches. Thus Churches are used. Almost always the hall not the Church itself, but the haul is attached to the Chapel or is the basement to the Chapel.

[Pacifist Patriot]

68. My area uses churches (and a Jewish temple) for the exact same reasons.

They generally have space with appropriate utilities that is unused on a Tuesday. Parking is ample and the voting space is handicap accessible. Never seen a church use their sanctuary for this purpose. Always a gymnasium or social hall.

My personal preference would be for Election Day to be a federal holiday and schools used, but I'm really not all that concerned with the use of religious facilities for voting constituting a violation of the separation of church and state. And I easily get a bee in my bonnet about separation issues.

[glinda]

44. The more polling places are pushed to churches the more of this crap will happen

[msanthrope]

56. The location was irrelevant--every polling place in Philly gets a Bible and a mini-flag. n/t

[Jamastiene]

62. Wait. What?

Is this the 1950s or 2010? FFS, what next? Are they going to make black people count the bubbles in a bar of soap next?

Something is VERY wrong with this picture.

1. Why were Bibles included in the election materials in the first place?

2. That election board needs more than "more training." They need to be replaced with competent election workers who have some inkling of the law.

[tblue37]

65. Oh, man! If someone tried that on THIS non-Christian, I would be thretening lawsuits left and right!