AARP PA Hosts Philadelphia City Commissioners for Tele-Town Hall

AARP Pennsylvania recently hosted a tele-town hall with Philadelphia City Commissioners Seth Bluestein and Chairwoman Lisa Deeley, to inform our Philadelphia members and supporters on how, when, and where to vote in the upcoming municipal election on November 7.

As part of AARP Pennsylvania’s mission to educate voters and allow them to make the best election decision, the Philadelphia-based team hosted a telephone town hall event where two of Philadelphia’s three city commissioners explained how to vote in the upcoming election and volunteer as a poll worker. Philadelphia voters on the call were able to ask questions of the commissioners, including key dates for the upcoming election, issues related to drop boxes, and accessibility to voting places.

The Philadelphia City Commissioners are a trio of elected officials responsible for supervising the registration of voters and the conduct of elections in Philadelphia. As the chief custodians of elections and voter registration, they are responsible for ensuring a fair, transparent, and efficient electoral process within the city limits. Their overarching goal is to maintain the voting system's integrity, ensuring that every eligible Philadelphian can register and vote and that every vote is counted accurately.

The specific duties of the City Commissioners include overseeing the maintenance of voter registration records, ensuring that voting machines are accurate and in good working order, and providing training for poll workers.

Additionally, they manage the logistics of setting up polling places throughout the city, ensuring they are accessible to all residents. The commissioners are responsible for certifying election results after an election. Beyond these fundamental responsibilities, they also engage in community outreach to educate the public about the voting process, promote voter registration, and address any concerns related to the electoral process.

During the tele-town hall, Commissioners Deeley and Bluestein reiterated that if there are any questions regarding registering to vote, eligible Philadelphians can find answers at votes.phila.gov or call their office directly at 215-686-VOTE.

Among the dates Commissioner Bluestein noted Philadelphians should know:

· Last day to register to vote: Mon., October 23, 2023

· Last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee or mail-in ballot: Tues., October 31, 2023

· Last day for the County Board of Elections to receive voted mail-in or absentee ballots: Tues., Nov. 7, 2023 – must be received by 8PM to be counted

· General Election Day: Tues., Nov. 7, 2023 – polls are open 7AM to 8PM

Listen to the full tele-town hall below: