Several schools in America are going to close on Election Day. Officials have called off classes and are being proactive as incidence that could threaten students' safety might erupt at the polls.
The fear of violence stems from the fact that this election season is much different than previous elections. Altercations and debates on social media, which have been quite heated and filled with hate, could also happen on the ground, when Americans cast their votes on Nov. 8.
School districts in Illinois, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have told students and their parents that there will be no classes Election Day. Meanwhile, other schools have requested for a transfer of polling places.
Ideally, polls should be in a more centralized location with ample parking and off the school grounds, the Associated Press reports. It is unclear how many districts have requested for a move, but churches and community centers will now become the polling places for these communities.
Parents at a neighborhood in St. Louis are relieved that school districts have decided to close for Election Day. This way, their children will be spared from potential harm. "If it's going to be as chaotic as they say it's going to be, it's a good thing," one dad, Alpay Balkir, voiced out, St. Louis CBS Local reports. "Kids should stay out of it," he added.
Uncertainty is at an all-time high and anxieties is being fueled by claims that the elections will be riddled with fraud. Many Americans actually expressed feeling the stress over the 2016 elections, as Parent Herald previously reported.
USA Today ran a poll that indicates at least 51 percent of Americans believe violence erupting on Election Day is possible. Yet there are still those who think this will be a smooth transition of power. Thus, expect security to be heightened Election Day, regardless of the polling place. Learn more about Election Day concerns in the video below.
