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Election Day on Tuesday: Are you ready?

November 6, 2023

Tomorrow is Election Day and here is some practical info to help you vote for Mayor, City Council, sheriff and judges – including the hotly contested race for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

A lot of information about the candidates for each office is out there. A good place to start is the Committee of 70’s voter guide, which allows you to look at a sample ballot and get info on all of the offices and candidates on your ballot. What you will find is candidates for Mayor, nine candidates for At-Large City Council seats (you choose up to five), candidates for your City Council District, Sheriff, Register of Wills, City Controller, three candidates for City Commissioner (you choose up to two) and a number of judicial candidates.

Each office in the guide has bipartisan information on each candidate and this year’s single ballot measure:

Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create an Office for People with Disabilities to coordinate the City’s compliance with requirements to provide access for people with disabilities to City services and programs and to otherwise provide for incorporation of the Office into the City government?

This year’s most high-profile judicial race is for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a race in a swing state in which the court could be asked to make decisions about the 2024 presidential election and reproductive rights. Former Philadelphia prosecutor and Superior Court Judge Dan McCaffery, a Democrat, is running against Republican Carolyn Carluccio, a Montgomery County judge and former federal prosecutor.

An estimated $22 million has been spent on the race, likely a record for a judicial race in the state.

In the City Council’s Third District, which encompasses West and Southwest Philadelphia, incumbent Jamie Gauthier is running against Jabari Jones, a write-in candidate and president of the West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative.

Heading to the polls or the ballot drop-off

Check your registration status hereStart here to find your polling place. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you can vote. Mail-in ballots are due by 8 p.m. as well. Go here to find the nearest drop-off spot and to check the status of your mail-in ballot.

At the polling place

You won’t need to show ID at the poll unless it’s your first time voting in the district. Here is a list of approved IDs. The days of signing the book at the polling place seem to be over as Philadelphia moved to electronic poll books for this year’s primary.

Experienced voters will be familiar with Philadelphia’s electronic voting machines. But if you need a refresher or are a first timer, the video here might be helpful.

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