Following recent violent incidents such as Sandy Hook and the Boston bombings, educational boards in Franklin County, O.H. have begun to question whether public schools should remain open as polling locations.

Ken Trump, CEO of the National School and Safety Security Services, stated in a recent interview with 10tv.com that he believes voting at schools should be banned altogether.

“We’re spending a ton of time and money and energy to reduce the risks every other school day, except one or two days.  Many people don’t seem to have the political courage to say no. The safety of the kids comes first,” said Trump.

Trump’s website goes into greater detail on his ideas for increasing security at school polling places.

The Gahanna-Jefferson school board of Franklin Cnty. stopped hosting elections in 2004, but now some board members wonder if removing the polls altogether was too extreme. Board member Windy McKenna was quoted:

“People were concerned about so many strangers coming into the school to vote,” McKenna stated. “While it does make sense, I thought we were losing an opportunity to bring the voters into our school buildings.”

There are also those who argue that by closing schools off as voting areas, students loose their opportunity to observe the election process.

Ohio School Closes To Voters