OAKLAND, Calif. — Feelmore510.com wants to use the Adult Gallery space as a polling location for voters during the Nov. 2 election.
With Feelmore510’s mission “To inspire people to lead socially and sexually empowering lives,” the owner of Feelmore510 last year took the opportunity to contact Alameda County Registrar of Voters to officially use their space as a polling location for any election.
Feelmore510 reached out to Alameda County Registrar of Voters shortly after opening in February 2011. After the connection was made, prior to the June 2012 primary, the county conducted a formal interview. Feelmore510’s owner, Nenna Joiner, has received word from Alameda County that it does not want to have more than one voting location as it may confuse voters.
However, the department’s mission states: "develop new techniques to improve outreach services which acknowledge the diversity of Alameda County."
“Voters are never confused," Joiner said. "I do believe that having Feelmore510 as not the only but an additional polling location embraces and aligns with the mission of the county. Small businesses can do incredible things within their community, and Feelmore510 is no exception. Furthermore, the residential numbers are growing in downtown Oakland so why not have an additional location?”
With the election quickly approaching, immediate printing is necessary, however, Feelmore510 hopes the Registrar of Voters would formally respond prior to the printing of voter booklets.
“This is not only my duty as a citizen but as a minority whose own ethnic and family history adds to the personal necessity to not only vote but assist with voting accessibility for others. I want to see my business, Feelmore510 Adult Gallery, used as a community resource particularly as a polling location in my lifetime,” Joiner said.
For people wanting to support, send an email to the Registrar of Voters Deputy Cynthia Cornejo at cynthia.cornejo@acgov.org.