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Obama panel hears election officials’ concerns that since Newtown, schools don’t want voting

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In this Dec. 27, 2013, photo a vehicle drives in front of Forest Avenue Elementary School in Glen Ridge, N.J. A presidential commission appointed by President Barack Obama is grappling with concerns that some schools no longer want to serve as polling places amid security concerns since the shooting in Newtown, Conn. Among those schools that have closed to balloting is Forest Avenue Elementary School. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

GLEN RIDGE, N.J. – Some schools no longer want to serve as polling places since the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

A presidential commission is hearing from election officials who are worried about schools trying to move balloting out of their buildings because of security concerns.

The commission plans to make recommendations this month to President Barack Obama about ways to improve access to the polls. The commission has signalled that it intends to encourage schools to stay open for voting.

Some states require schools to be available on Election Day, although there was an effort in at least seven states in the past year to allow schools to close. None of the bills passed.

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