Some of Pennsylvania’s most populous counties, including Montgomery County, are relocating polling places out of synagogues and other Jewish buildings to avoid time conflicts with the first day of Passover, writes Mark Scolforo for The Washington Post.

In Montgomery County, the most populous Philadelphia suburb, eight of the 17 polling places that were moved had been located inside synagogues. 

Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, who heads its elections board, called it “unfortunate and disrespectful” that state lawmakers were not able to find a suitable alternative to April 23.

“It’s like putting Election Day on Easter Sunday or Christmas. People are either with family or they’re worshipping,” said Makhika, a Hindu man whose wife is Jewish. “And sure, there are going to be people who vote no matter what. But there will also be people who won’t.”

Pennsylvania law sets most primaries in May, but in presidential election years like 2024, they are held on the fourth Tuesday in April. 

Proposals to change this year’s primary date have been both to avoid the Passover conflict and make it more relevant to the presidential contest.

The Senate voted overwhelmingly last September to move the primary to March 19, but the proposal ran into opposition in the Democratic-controlled House. 

Read more about the Pennsylvania polling places that have been moved for next month’s primary at The Washington Post.

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