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By JASON CLAYWORTH • jclayworth@dmreg.com • October 21, 2010
Two Ames churches that will host satellite voting during services this month are part of a trend blurring the line of church-and-state separation, the Iowa ACLU said Wednesday.
"Combining polling places with religious services is an invitation to the abuse of both religion and the civic act of voting," said Ben Stone, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa.
However, representatives of the churches say they will carefully follow the prohibition against instructing members how to vote.
ACLU leery of Satellite Voting at Ames churches
Church officials cannot instruct members how to vote without potentially jeopardizing their federal nonprofit, tax-exempt status. Advocacy, by Iowa law, must not occur within range of the polling site.
Stone says the issue is a concern, especially in light of the actions of Cornerstone World Outreach, a Sioux City congregation that is sponsoring a church-based campaign to unseat Iowa Supreme Court justices.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State alleges the campaign violates a federal ban on political activity by tax-exempt groups.
Tim Lubinus, global ministry director for Cornerstone Church, said Story County Auditor Mary Mosiman approached the church to host the voting. The church did not initiate the discussion, he said.
Mosiman noted that three other churches will hold satellite voting, but not during Sunday services. She said she had no legal grounds to deny the requests and checked with the Iowa secretary of state's office that she was following the law.
Churches often offer the most convenient locations for the public, which is why they are often selected for polling places, Mosiman said.
Stone says the issue is a concern, especially in light of the actions of Cornerstone World Outreach, a Sioux City congregation that is sponsoring a church-based campaign to unseat Iowa Supreme Court justices.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State alleges the campaign violates a federal ban on political activity by tax-exempt groups.
Tim Lubinus, global ministry director for Cornerstone Church, said Story County Auditor Mary Mosiman approached the church to host the voting. The church did not initiate the discussion, he said.
Mosiman noted that three other churches will hold satellite voting, but not during Sunday services. She said she had no legal grounds to deny the requests and checked with the Iowa secretary of state's office that she was following the law.
Churches often offer the most convenient locations for the public, which is why they are often selected for polling places, Mosiman said.
Cornerstone Church, a nondenominational congregation in Ames, will host satellite voting from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The Iowa ACLU believes it is the first time in state history that a church has hosted satellite voting. Church services are at 9 and 11 a.m.
And on Oct. 31, Stonebrook Church in Ames will host satellite voting during the same times.
Iowa has held voting in churches for years, but that's been on Election Day, not during church services.
Brad Barrett, a pastor at Stonebrook Church, challenged those who object, asking why people are afraid of in-church votes.
"I'm not a great historian, but I kind of chuckle when I hear" about the separation of church and state, said Barrett, whose church regularly has around 400 people in attendance. "I think the Founding Fathers were intending to keep government from meddling with church, not church from influencing government."
County auditors approve petitions for satellite voting, which most commonly is held in public buildings during the workweek, according to the Iowa secretary of state's office. Auditors can deny petitions — which require at least 100 signatures — only for narrowly defined reasons such as handicap inaccessibility or if the site is unable to provide security and secrecy of voters.
And on Oct. 31, Stonebrook Church in Ames will host satellite voting during the same times.
Iowa has held voting in churches for years, but that's been on Election Day, not during church services.
Brad Barrett, a pastor at Stonebrook Church, challenged those who object, asking why people are afraid of in-church votes.
"I'm not a great historian, but I kind of chuckle when I hear" about the separation of church and state, said Barrett, whose church regularly has around 400 people in attendance. "I think the Founding Fathers were intending to keep government from meddling with church, not church from influencing government."
County auditors approve petitions for satellite voting, which most commonly is held in public buildings during the workweek, according to the Iowa secretary of state's office. Auditors can deny petitions — which require at least 100 signatures — only for narrowly defined reasons such as handicap inaccessibility or if the site is unable to provide security and secrecy of voters.
