Richmond Registrar ‘frustrated’ after Liberation Church withdraws as polling location

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Keith Balmer, Richmond’s General Registrar, has issued a statement expressing his frustration after Liberation Church withdrew one of its facilities as a polling location.

The city proposed moving a polling location from Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary School, located off of Jahnke Road in the city’s Southside, to a Liberation Church satellite site. This proposal sparked controversy given the church’s alleged views on sexuality and gender inclusivity.

On Wednesday, April 24, 8News reported that the church’s website displayed statements rejecting gay marriage and gender-fluidity. Those statements were removed from the website shortly after the story was published.

On Monday, April 29, Richmond General Registrar Keith Balmer posted a statement online saying that Liberation Church had withdrawn its facility as a polling location, which he said left him “exasperated and disheartened.”

“As the Registrar, I am frustrated by the loss of a valuable polling location, particularly in an area where options are limited,” said Balmer in the statement. “The task of finding suitable alternatives is daunting, especially when considering factors such as accessibility, parking, and convenience for voters.”

Balmer said that, despite the church’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights casting a “shadow” over its suitability as a polling location, the city works to ensure neutrality and accessibility in the voting process for all eligible Richmonders.

“The selection of polling locations does not imply endorsement of the beliefs or practices of any particular institution,” said Balmer. “The voting process is inherently secular, and every effort is made to ensure that voters have a neutral and comfortable experience.”

Balmer said that the city is working to determine suitable replacements for the church’s facility, but acknowledged that it will be challenging given the limitations. Balmer’s full statement can be found here .

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