News-Record.com

GREENSBORO - As the county elections board added Sunday voting for the first time this fall, one member voted against the measure because she didn't want a church-and-state conflict.

The 2-1 vote Tuesday by the Guilford County Board of Elections established the voting session for Sunday, Oct. 19.

That means, however, that one fewer Saturday is available during the early voting period running Oct. 16 through Nov. 1.

Elections board member Kathryn Lindley said Sunday voting could give pastors a chance to endorse a candidate in a sermon, then send a busload of voters to the polls.

"But then they would lose their nonprofit status," said Lindley, the only appointee from the Guilford County Republican Party to the three-member board.

She hinted that a pastor could still endorse a candidate and avoid scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service.

Churches can discuss politics, but federal law prohibits them from endorsing political candidates or parties.

Doing so can cost a church its tax-exempt status.

The Sunday early voting session will run from noon to 4 p.m., a prime chance for the church crowd or anyone else to pack in a morning of worship or other activity before voting.

And people who work on Saturdays also have another shot to vote.

"People could make it a family day, voting," said Carolyn Andrews, a Greensboro resident eating lunch in a park a few blocks from the Board of Elections meeting. "Pastors could mention it from the pulpit."

The Rev. Jim Miller of Presbyterian Church of the Cross, contacted after the meeting, didn't foresee church-state conflicts arising.

"Those who would try to influence would still do it anyway," he said, "and those who would respect the privacy and intelligence of people will still look at the issues and let them decide."

State officials for the Democratic and Republican parties seemed to believe that Sunday voting would only help people get out more.

"We welcome religious conservatives to come out and vote as much as they want," said Brent Woodcox, spokesman for the N.C. Republican Party.

Jerry Meek, chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party, echoed that sentiment.

"The IRS has regulations in place that limits activity by churches," Meek said, "and I would imagine that they comply with regulations."

"I suppose that those churches that are into mixing church and state might find the moment advantageous," said Michael Usey, pastor of College Park Baptist Church.

"From our perspective at College Park, we find advantageous anything that might facilitate voting."

Voters have until Oct. 10 to register to vote.

If they miss that deadline, however, Guilford County will open polls Oct. 16 to Nov. 1 for one-stop early voting, where a person can register but must vote at the same time.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com