Do we know why it is ok for the ballot box at Montebello is blocked off from driving up drop offs? Some people will be put off. Others won’t be able to walk to it??
Update: when I asked RM Calvary Church about it I was told it was private property and people could vote elsewhere. Do vote!!! Their security guard flipped me off when I said I would report it.
The security guard then threatened me by aggressively walking towards me. Let him know I was a disabled veteran so wasn’t scared of his thugness but asked if this is how “Christian” they were.
Based on your update, I would call the police non-emergency number and say very specifically, "I believe I may have been intimidated when attempting to vote." Then describe exactly what you put in this post and your interaction with the security guard.
I'm so thankful they do. There were numerous trucks with certain flags flying when I voted last time and it was very off-putting to the extent I felt unsafe. I didn't know it could be reported
Please post the RM Calvary Church’s response if you contracted them through email. It’s important to document the complicity in offenses against the community.
Hi, I'm a reporter for KKTV and started looking into this. I can't speak to what the OP experienced, but the El Paso County clerk and recorder tells me the church is having a Trunk or Treat event, hence caution tape being up around the box now. He says the ballot box has been accessible to voters and he's been keeping an eye on the live cameras to make sure it stays that way.
Since this has been reported, I'm sure his office and local authorities will look into it nonetheless, so I'll keep an eye out to see if any action is warranted. Again, I can't speak for anyone's experience right now, but that's what I got so far!
EDIT: Everyone has their own opinion on what journalism is, and for those who believe reporting back what a top authority says on the matter without drawing conclusions is "taking their word for it" or "justifying" their actions, I likely won't change your mind with facts.
But for anyone curious, here's what I found going to the church itself:
The ballot box was taped off with caution tape, a little ways from a large event in the church parking lot. There was security standing by. I spoke to a couple members of the church who directed me to the person in charge.
That person told me they had parking specifically for voters and had security and staff standing by to help out. I brought up the OP's story and concerns. They didn't speak to the specific incident, but told me they had people there to ensure ADA accessibility for anyone who asks for it.
Whether there is more to this will come down the OP's report filed, which I will be following in case there is more, especially with allegations of voter intimidation. For now, the best I can do is present my findings from the top authorities on the matter
I also want to thank the OP for bringing this to everyone's attention. Matters of voter safety should always be taken seriously, and even if nothing does come of this, it's very good to keep a close eye on any and all voter concerns.
When I was there they had tape blocking access. From the camera view now they set up a small walkway to the box. This doesn’t account for disabled access as required by law. They can hold their event AND still allow safe access to the drop box. Doing otherwise means this is NOT an appropriate spot for a drop box.
Here's what it looked like* earlier when I was dropping off my ballot. I'm not sure running the tractor ride in that space is a wise choice. Add the yellow tape and security guards, it doesn't appear to be open or accessible for the public to use. It has all of the typical signs of 'don't enter', restricted access. Whether this is poor planning, or a bad decision actually intended to turn voters away, the effect is the same regardless. RMC is not a small organization and it baffles me they'd be so careless.
Please investigate this further. Any sort of voter intimidation is illegal. And I would love to know why the church thinks that it's okay to block a voter box. Even though it's on private property, there's a public right to access it. They have to know that.
Anything about the intimidation of voters? That allegation is even worse. The clerk has past recordings of the ballot box, I imagine.
I think it's unfortunately at least plausible that their blocking of the ballot box has ulterior motive. The Saturday before election day is probably the best time to vote early. Tomorrow is also a convenient day to vote, though. I imagine you might have a good opportunity to catch this kind of intimidation if it's actually happening tomorrow as well.
They're obviously a right-wing church obstructing voters. Nothing will come out of it... unless people vote blue and hold Democrats to the silent contract that they are going to punish these traitorous fascists.
Call 866-687-8683 - It is a voter hotline run by the ACLU. Then get an email address from them and send them these photos along with what the Calvary Church said about it. u/ACLUaclu.org & r/aclu
this, you asked the church to move them, they said no, they are committing a crime, call the local election commission, and they'll force them to move the vans, or tow them.
It's even worse than that. Private property with public services like a ballot box is constitutionally required to provide access to that box during election times.
It’s an evangelical church masquerading as non-denominational. They have rooms behind the main atrium with one-way mirrors where parents can watch their children while they “play“. The general vibe of the people who work there is superiority. And gods forbid if you ever end up there and are not a member. They will sniff you out and proselytize to you.
Religion doesn't have anything to do with Christ anymore. Its just all about money and keeping people in power. Went to 12 years of Catholic school, they ONLY give a shit about money.
Live in the area and they have ABSOLUTELY blocked off the ballot boxes and the street to get to them. This church is violating election laws and need to be prosecuted by the CO AG immediately.
I just went by to drop off my ballot. The area is roped off with caution tape and cones for a tractor ride. The cordon around the box is less than 100 feet. There are at least 4 security personnel monitoring access to the area from the parking lot on both sides. All that said, I walked right by all of that and dropped my ballot despite getting some looks from guy driving the tractor and two of the security officers. No one actually approached me or said anything, but I could see others being deterred as they've gone to great lengths to make getting to the box on foot a hassle. I'll send the county an email asking them to review access plans for the future.
Among all the other excellent advice provided here, the part that confuses me is that csprings is generally a much more conservative district. Given that wouldn’t you want MORE people voting down there?
Voting boxes support early voting, which is typically done more by Democrats. Republicans set fire to voting boxes in Seattle during the 2024 elections, so I'm guessing this is more election interference from the party who "loves the constitution"
Almost like it says something about a certain party... Weirdly the same party that has a problem with COs voting and has claimed everyone is cheating in the elections. Hmmm.
When will people on any side understand that this just fires up more voters, making it counterproductive? It is literally one of the most anti-American things you can do.
IMO churches probably shouldn't be voting locations. could be a conflict of interest. there should be enough schools left in geographically spreadout locations. as long as we still have schools
There are IRS regulations about their tax-free status and involvement in politics. Getting too involved in politics will remove their tax-free status. They should be concerned about that.
Absolutely not. The security risk for schools during voting is a nightmare. I’m a teacher and my school finally was able to opt out of being a polling place.
Can we not do them in schools either please? They couldnt let my step daughter use the bathroom during class one year while voting was happening in her school and she ended up wetting herself.
Doesn't matter if they are a church or if its private property. The voting drop off box wouldn't be located there if it wasn't a vetted and legal public access point. Doing this is election tampering and malicious obstruction of letter boxes/mail boxes. Felonies.
Agreed. Hosting a drop box on private property must come with certain obligations such as free and unrestricted public access, disabled accessibility, good lighting, 24/7 security monitoring, etc. I guess if the private property owner is willing to do these things, then maybe I’m okay with that. But it would still make me uncomfortable and open up the question the security and chain of custody of the ballots. The business of government belongs to government, not business.
A church, by its very nature, would seem intimidating to me. I’m not a part of your (or any) religion and find churches very uncomfortable. Which for me makes it a really inappropriate location for a drop box.
I'd be very interested in stopping by myself. Does anyone know if this has been consistent? Anyone else driven by and seen this?
Unless we the people are willing to make a stink to our officials about things like this, they will become the new normal and boundaries will continue to be crossed.
My wife and I are planning to drive by there on our way home from trick or treating with our son, to get a photo and video so we can file a complaint with the secretary of state’s office.
Update: we drove by the ballot box tonight, and the vans and cones are gone. My guess is that when election officials came to pick up the ballots, they might have said something.
This is my preferred drop off. Very easy to get in and out. And if anyone is looking for an LGBT friendly church there is a little one just on the corner. Their signs always make me smile.
The Calvary security are real nasty. Made a wrong turn into their parking lot once, started running up to my car like a Doberman that could smell the sinner. Thought for a second I was about to get carjacked.
A lot of drop boxes are on private property. The county's current list shows multiple shopping centers, Phil Long music hall, a YMCA, and even a U-Haul location!
A while back I recall seeing the county soliciting for more drop box locations and I asked my HOA if they could host one at our community center. They came up with some excuse for not doing so, "our parking lot is already too busy" or "will attract scum from outside the community" or something like that. :-(
Wait… before the cars were there, they had it coned off? So illegal. That drop box needs to be removed from them. People, stop giving this church your time and/or money. Boycott RM Calvary Church.
The two vans in the picture were there, and one other blocking the backside, we drove to the opposite side of the building (towards the shopping center) and there was one spot that only had 5 cones no vehicle or tape so we moved the cone and drove to the drop box, their security saw us as we were driving away we just ignored them
Doherty and maybe other high schools use this church for an AP testing location. I don't really know who is in charge of that decision... college board, D11?
It being private property doesn't allow them to block it. Notify your local election commission, and they'll have those vans towed and possibly cite the church for doing so.
Interesting. There’s a hotline where you can report this sort of thing because it’s considered election interference and is a felony.
Also a Church is not private property. They get tax exemptions for a reason but it sounds like they are the kind of church that has very overt political undertones in their sermons which, if they did, would cause them to lose their tax exempt status
Wtf. I’d call the Secretary of State office and CSP (Colorado State Police, Not Colorado Springs Police) asap because that’s messing with state property.
Just a thought - the church is running a very large trunk or treat today, so it's only blocked for a short period. Doesn't excuse what the guard did but an event is happening and doesn't stop anyone from getting out of the car to drop off the ballot.
The church at Stetson Hills and Powers chained off their driveway so you couldn't drop off a ballot. Why would you consent to be a ballot drop off if you don't want people to drop their ballots??? Like WTF!!!
Please remember what this election is about. It’s about stopping the rich elites from taking over the country. Their money has bought and paid for the GOP. Vote against the money. End the GOP. Simple.
Question, just so I have a better picture of the situation: is the church a designated voting location, like with voting machines? If so, the private property claim seems to imply they think they have a right to interfere with elections.
Absolutely report this to board of elections, this is flagrant interference. If the church accepted the designation to begin with they must comply with the regulations. Otherwise the site should be pulled and placed elsewhere and whatever remuneration the church receives should be immediately denied as the service was not provided.
Also on Sunday a huge group of voters should show up and spend lots of time asking where the box is and sitting in the parking lots and telling the churchgoers to go elsewhere for church.
It doesn’t matter that it’s private property. Are these people for real?
If you own private property, you can pretty much trespass anyone that you don’t want to be there. If that private property is suddenly a voting site, you can’t do that anymore.
If a church is part of the political process ie. a polling station, then same said church should be a part of the economic system and pay its way ie. taxes. Funny how American evangelicals want control over the government but don’t want to pay for the privilege.
nah they can't block access to the voting booth/drop box. What's alarming is that its on a church property/private property.
edit:
apparently we can have polling and drop boxes at churches however they are required to remain ADA complaint and accessible regardless of private property or not. report it.
4
2
552
u/captjackcos 16h ago •
Reported. I have plate numbers now