September 6, 2011

NEW YORK (JTA) — An attempt to move a voting site to a Brooklyn church was nixed over concerns that Orthodox Jews would be disenfranchised.

According to a news release issued from his office, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, an Orthodox Jew, intervened after residents in New York’s 73rd and 74th election districts were notified that their polling site was being moved from a public school to St. Agatha’s Church over worries that the school could not accommodate enough voters.

Hikind said there were large crosses on the interior and exterior of the Catholic church.

“Who knows how many Orthodox Jewish or other voters would have been disenfranchised by the Board of Elections’ decision to move these voters to a church?” Hikind said in a statement.

A new site has not yet been identified in time for an upcoming primary for Civil Court judge. Voters will be allowed to cast their vote at the Brooklyn Board of Elections by selecting the “Religious Scruples” box.

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