Bill would prohibit polling in schools on Election Day By linda denicola Staff Writer FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Township Committee members seemed perplexed about the reason for state Senate Bill No. 2516 which if enacted into law as written would prohibit the use of schools as polling places in any election. Although committee members passed a resolution opposing the bill, they did not know why it was even proposed. The bill was introduced on May 15 by state Sen. Joseph A. Palaia (R-Monmouth) and was referred to the Senate Government Committee. According to the Township Committee’s resolution, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities’ Legislative Committee reviewed the bill on May 28 and unanimously opposed it because in some towns there are not enough buildings for polling places and schools need to be used. Freehold Township officials said removing polling places from schools would be a detriment for the township, which relies on local schools to accommodate several of the community’s 22 voting districts. The bill would also place a hardship on residents by relocating polling places and creating overcrowding at other locations, according to the resolution. Palaia said he thought it was rather surprising that people would say a bill such as this is not necessary in light of the expressed concern for school security. His concern is not new and has nothing to do with paranoia since Sept. 11, he said, adding that it goes back more than 30 years to when he was an educator. "I was a teacher for six years at the Wanamassa School (in Ocean Township) and a principal for 27 years in a K-4 school. Thirty years ago, I said to people that we have such control over the people that come into our building, but anyone can come in on election days," the senator said. Palaia said it has been a dream of his to have a reason to look into other polling places and a different way of doing things. He added that the reason presented itself when he received letters from the Ocean Township elementary schools. "My ultimate goal is to have in-service work days for teachers when students are off [and] coincide with election days. There are three election days — primary (June), general (November) and school board (April). Why not have the in-service days on one or two of those election days? If I were to get only one of those days, it would preferably be for the general election." But the bill does not explain Palaia’s plan. The bill before the Senate states that a county board of elections cannot, under any circumstances, select a school or schoolhouse as a polling place, or as an alternative polling place, for any election. Palaia said the wording of the bill is more restrictive than he intended. "Whenever you put in legislation, you start with the concept, like the one I had, then you go through the committee process and get alternatives to what your bill is supposed to do. "I want people to think about it. I think the word security outweighs the problems. I can’t say that anything has happened, but I think we need to review the issue. Once it gets rolling through committee and I give them the alternative, they may look at it in a different light. In the final bill that I want to see, [polling places in schools] will still be a permissible use, but I want them to hear my alternative about using in-service days," the senator said.