It was Election Day all over the United States and a ton of key races were happening here in Western New York and New York State as a whole. There were major mayor races that were happening throughout the State.
The polls were open from 6 AM to 9 PM all across New York State which means churches, community centers and schools are open to the public and voters can come in and vote.
It is insane that New York State, in the climate that we are in, and violence happening within schools, and we just let the general public walk right in to schools and vote.
I walked into an school where they are literally have elementary kids being taught and people are just lining up to vote within the school. A line of 5 year olds were walking past us while we al stand there in line to get in and vote. We take all these safety measures to make sure that our kids are safe, put all these protocols in place, and then there is one day where we just invite anyone and everyone over 18 years old to just walk into the school ALL DAY LONG? Seems ironic and unsafe. Not to mention you invite all the residents to bombard the school on a day where it is already controversial and unsettling–election day.
When I was there I kind of mentioned this to another voter and someone said ‘well where do you want them to do the voting’. Literally anywhere BUT a school. Make the lines longer at churches? Do more community centers? Maybe the lines just have to be longer. Don’t put these parents and kids in an unsafe working condition and it is insane that this is even a thing.
Top 10 WNY Public High Schools According To US News and World Report
Check out the latest ranking of Public High Schools in WNY according to US News and World Report.
Gallery Credit: Dave Fields