LIHUE (AP) — Some voters on Kauai turned to religion before casting their votes this Election Day.
Churches on the island opened their doors either as polling places or places of religious respite for voters hoping to calm their nerves before casting ballots, The Garden Island reported.
Rev. Robin Taylor of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church said the sanctuary isn’t normally open on weekdays but she felt it was important to allow people to stop by for prayer of meditation before the election.
“After such a negative and challenging campaign season, we thought it important for people to have a place to come to pray before voting, or even afterwards,” Taylor said.
The church is located up the street from a polling place and Taylor says many people stopped by on their way to vote.
Sylvia Woods, of Princeville, stopped by Christ Memorial Church around noon. She said it was nice to have somewhere to stop with all the stress of the election season.
“It’s great that they’re open because everyone is stressed about this election,” she said.
Kauai Christian Fellowship’s South Campus was also open for Election Day. The church hosted a polling place.
“We intentionally wanted to have the voting here at the church because people from both sides can step in and vote as Americans and then leave as Americans,” said Pastor Rick Bundschuh of Kauai Christian Fellowship.