Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church has been a polling place for the community members every election. Now, Dallas County is reducing the polling places, and the community wants the county to retain the church.
Reducing Polling Places in Dallas
Election officials in a particular area may become tense when discussing possible polling locations.
According to a Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights report, Texas lost more than 750 polling places from 2012 to 2018. That time frame is congruent with the period after the Voting Rights Act had a component of it struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States.
KERA News reported that many of these closures occurred in Texas counties, Dallas County included, that have adopted a vote center format for elections.
As the report notes, the law permits but does not mandate that counties solicit public opinion.
The Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas's Joppa neighborhood serves an important purpose beyond just as a place of worship. The church also served as the polling place for the community.
The church was included in a countywide assessment of voting locations conducted by Dallas County.
Even if Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church needs accessibility upgrades so that individuals with disabilities may vote there, community members will ensure it continues to be a polling location.
Ongoing Surveys in Polling Places
Per the report, the elections administration in Dallas County analyzed data from more than 500 polling places to gain support from the county's diverse groups.
Information was collected, including voter participation rates and average round-trip distances to the polls.
Parking and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance were also factors in the department's site surveys.
The county regularly organized the Vote Center Advisory Committee from January to March. Members of the VCAC come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including local government officials, political party chairs, and grassroots activists.
Dallas County Elections Director Michael Scarpello stated that local experts could explain why a venue with fewer voters, like Gethsemane, may be a community's only alternative. Scarpello said Gethsemane Missionary Baptist might need temporary ramps or other ADA-compliant changes. Still, he expects voters there on May 6.
The Elections Department of Dallas County is responsible for holding fair elections and keeping up-to-date records of registered voters. As stated on its website, the department respects the constitutionality of all federal, state, and municipal laws and policies and the rulings of all courts.
They are dedicated to success in the electoral process, thus staying on the cutting edge of information. They also help people continue to have faith in the election process.
About Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church
The Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, usually referred to as GMBC, is a flourishing congregation that can be found in the South Dallas neighborhood.
According to the people's review on Business Yab, Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church is a small church with a big heart. One also stated that the pastor believes in "preaching about saving souls for the kingdom."
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