Some residents who will vote at the Bell Road Baptist Church are not comfortable with the proliferation of “Yes on Proposition 8” signs that are scattered across the property.

“That is my polling place,” Chris Williams said. “The polling place is supposed to be a non-partisan, safe place to vote. My view is ‘No on Prop 8.’ It feels like when I go there it’s not representing me, it’s representing someone’s opinion.”

The signs represent an infringement on her personal opinion, she said.

“Because the signs are here, it feels like the Baptist Church is taking a stand, so some person who has never thought about it before thinks that all churches take that stand, but that is not true,” Williams said. “There is perception that churches are voting yes on Proposition 8 and that’s not necessarily true.”

Williams also brought up the issue of separation of church and state.

“We live in a country where there’s supposed to be a separation between church and state, but choosing the Baptist Church as a polling place combines church and state,” Williams said.

Pastor Rob Patterson of Bell Road Baptist Church points out there are bumper stickers for candidates from both parties in his church parking.

“Rather than aligning oneself with partisan politics based on family tradition or union affiliation, I plead with Christians everywhere to pray for the Spirit’s guidance and vote accordingly,” Patterson wrote in a column published in today’s Journal.

State Election Code 18370 prohibits any campaigning or signs within 100 feet from the entrance door of the polling place, according to Ryan Ronco, assistant election registrar of Placer County voters.

However, this law goes into effect on Election Day, according to Jim McCauley, county election registrar.

“If the signs are more than 100 feet from the entrance, then it’s legal,” McCauley said. “If it is not taken down, we would ask them to remove them. We don’t have enforcement power, but the law will be enforced.”

When asked about the signs at Bell Road Baptist Church, McCauley cited the right of free speech before Election Day.

“It’s not Election Day and people have the right of free speech,” McCauley said.

However, the law goes into effect on Election Day.

“If the signs are more than 100 feet from the entrance, then it’s legal,” McCauley said. “If it’s not then it would be taken down on Election Day.”

On Tuesday, Patterson said he received a cell phone message from the Placer County Election’s Office about political signs on the church’s property.

The recorded message said, “We have driven by the facilities of the church and noted that you guys have quite a few political signs,” Patterson said. “We just wanted to ask that they not be within 100 feet of the church on Election Day.”

Patterson said he plans to comply.

“We will take the signs down on Monday night, Nov. 3,” Patterson said. “We generally have about eight signs that say ‘yes on Proposition 8.’ Consistently, all of the signs have been torn down on the last three Friday nights. I am taking the signs down as a spirit of good will for the community. We have made our point.”

When asked if he has spoken to his congregation about Proposition 8, Patterson replied that reference to it is made in the church bulletin.

“Our church bulletin actually says, vote ‘yes on Proposition 8’ and gives a quote on marriage as stated in the Proposition,” Patterson said.

Generally speaking, Patterson does not favor one candidate over another from the pulpit.

“In the pulpit I would not say to vote for one candidate or another, but if an issue is of Biblical relevance, it is important to vote according to one’s conscience,” Patterson said.

Ty Yarnell, another Auburn resident who votes at the Bell Road Baptist Church, said she feels insulted by all the political signs at a polling place.

“It feels like an insult to my heart, truthfully,” Yarnell said Thursday. “It’s supposed to be a safe place to go and express our deepest concerns about our country and people. When you go to the church, you will see that there are no other signs, just an assault on one group of our society.

“Because it’s private property, the opposing side does not have the chance to express themselves at their place of voting.”