Some Schools Are Canceling Classes on Election Day Due to Safety Fears

With all of the chaos that this year's presidential election has brought to the country, some schools are fearing the worst on Election Day and have gone so far as to cancel classes on Nov. 8. While public schools have always been used as polling places in the past, some parents and law officials have raised concerns about having children in school on this day, even if the voting is not taking place there. According to the National School Boards Association, it's currently unknown how many schools will be closed on Election Day, but in districts across the country, classes have been cancelled or polling places have been moved from schools to other buildings in local areas. Erin Gadd, a district spokeswoman from Lorain, OH, said, "Emotions are running high during this presidential election" and that her district made the decision to cancel classes back in August.

"There's going to be a lot of people coming in and out of the buildings throughout the day as they show up to vote," said Jeff Graham, the Lorain school's superintendent. "We want to ensure a smooth experience for everyone concerned. We felt it would be best for our students and community."

With a growing fear of violence across the country, district officials are making the decision to keep kids out of school for preventative measures.