Brad Friedman: African-American Voter Forced to Swear on Bible Before Casting Ballot in Midterm

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



African-American Voter Forced to Swear on Bible Before Casting Ballot in Midterm


"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. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/326990/african-american_voter_forced_to_swear_on_bible_before_casting_ballot_in_midterm/