It’s General Election Eve and here are a few things to keep in mind about the big day tomorrow.

Those who haven’t voted early can vote in person tomorrow. There are dozens of polling places around West Philadelphia; to find your polling place, go here. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Your ID is not required to vote unless you are voting for the first time or have recently moved. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you can vote.

Please note that these polling places are not for dropping off your mail or absentee ballot. You can still drop it off at one of the City’s Satellite Election offices created to help with mail-in voting (there are two offices in West Philly). You can also request a new mail ballot if yours hasn’t arrived yet, then fill it out and return it. These offices will stay open through Election Day. Their hours are 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., but they will accept dropped off ballots until 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Continue Reading

After one-day break (no curfew on Thursday), a citywide curfew has been declared for Philadelphia again starting tonight (Oct. 30) at 9 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. on Saturday. During this time, residents are allowed to leave their homes only to go to work, seek medical or emergency assistance, or drop off a mail-in ballot.

Heavier police presence can be seen this afternoon around 52nd Street in West Philadelphia. Also, as had been expected, the National Guard started arriving in the city today, following a few days of civil unrest as the result of the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Monday: Continue Reading

A citywide curfew has been issued for Philadelphia after the second night of protests and civil unrest following Monday’s police killing of Walter Wallace Jr. The curfew will begin tonight at 9 p.m. and will end at 6 a.m. tomorrow. During the curfew, people are allowed to leave their homes only to go to work, seek medical or emergency assistance or drop off a mail-in ballot.

Protests continued last night in West Philadelphia and some more looting and ATM explosions were reported across the city. Many stores and other businesses closed early on Tuesday and began boarding up windows. Some stores are also closing early tonight because of the curfew.

The National Guard is expected to arrive in Philadelphia on Friday, with some additional forces on Saturday, according to media reports.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up for Walter Wallace’s family, and the community has already raised over $140,000 since yesterday.

If you were planning to vote early in the Nov. 3 general election, but didn’t get a chance to apply for your mail-in or absentee ballot, you can still do it until tomorrow. The deadline for application is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and you can apply for a ballot in-person at one of the City’s satellite election offices.

There are two satellite election offices in West Philadelphia – at Alain Locke School (4550 Haverford Ave.) and at Overbrook Elementary School (Annex Trailer), 2032 N. 62nd St.. Regular hours of operation are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. This Tuesday, all voters in line by 5 p.m. will be served, according to the Philadelphia City Commissioners Office:  Continue Reading

The City Council unanimously passed new regulations today limiting the use of consumer fireworks. The new legislation makes it illegal to set off fireworks after 9 p.m. except on federal holidays and when such use is in full compliance with the Fire Code. The legislation was introduced by Councilmember David Oh.

Oh drafted the legislation after hearing from distressed residents across the city.

“This is an issue that has impacted every single neighborhood in Philadelphia,” he said.  Continue Reading

Voters can now pick up or drop off their voted ballots at a new satellite election office in West Philadelphia. The new office has opened over the weekend at Alain Locke School (4550 Haverford Ave.). The hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Today is the last day for Pennsylvania residents to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election. If you’re eligible to vote, but haven’t registered yet, you can also do it at the new election office. The deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is October 27th.

Another election office in West Philadelphia is located at Overbrook Elementary School (Annex Trailer), 2032 N. 62nd St. For information on other citywide election office locations, go here.  Continue Reading