[SOURCE: COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY]
Polls across the city and Pennsylvania are open 7am to 8pm on today. Any voter in line by 8pm must be allowed to vote.
VOTER RIGHTS
As a voter in Philadelphia, you have the right to:
- Vote if you are a U.S. citizen, city resident, at least 18 years of age and properly registered with the County Board of Elections. Visit philadelphiavotes.com for more info.
- Vote privately and free from coercion, intimidation or harassment. Campaigning of any kind and the distribution of buttons, flyers or other partisan literature is strictly prohibited inside the polling place.
- Access to interpreters (live and/or telephonic) at all polling places if you are a Limited-English Proficient citizen.
- Request help from anyone you choose if you are disabled or need language assistance in order to vote; however, the person assisting cannot be your employer or union representative.
- Ask election officials about voting procedures. Rules and resources are in place to ensure every eligible voter can cast a ballot privately and independently. If you have a question, ask!
- Cast a Provisional (paper) Ballot if, for any reason, you are unable to use the voting machines. Provisional Ballots are a fail-safe option to ensure no voter is disenfranchised due to a question regarding their eligibilty. All ballots are counted following verification that the voter was properly registered.
Report issues or problems encountered at the polling place to the Philadelphia County Board of Elections at 215-686-1590.
VOTER RESPONSIBILITIES
As a voter in Philadelphia, you have the responsibility to:
- Familiarize yourself with candidates and ballots questions. Visit seventy.org before you go to the polls. ONLY registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates in primary elections; ALL voters, regardless of party affiliation, can vote for ballot questions. In the general election; ALL voters can vote for candidates and questions.
- Report voter intimidation, or potentially illegal or fraudulent activity to a poll worker or the District Attorney’s Office at 215-686-9641.
- Review election procedures and voting machine instructions before Election Day at philadelphiavotes.com. Seek guidance from poll workers if you have questions about the voting process.
- Keep your voter registration up-to-date with your current address and party affiliation. Online registration is available at votespa.com. The registration deadline is always 30 days before Election Day.
- Treat poll workers, canvassers and other voters with courtesy and respect. Thank your local Election Board for their service!
For questions about the voting process or to report an issue at the polls: Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a service provided by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
DOWNLOAD: A Pocket-Sized Voter Rights Card
RELATED: Check Your Voter Registration
RELATED: Find Your Polling Place