The 2024 general election will take place Nov. 5, when registered voters can cast their votes in person at the polling locations around the city, but here are a few reminders for those who want to vote earlier.

Voter registration has been closed, but those who have registered can still apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The Philadelphia City Commissioners has opened ten Satellite Election Offices throughout the city, one in each council district, where voters can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot, complete it, and/or return it. All election offices are open Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Here are the election offices in West and Southwest Philadelphia:

2nd Council District

6100 Woodland Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19142

3rd Council District

4029 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

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Market Street near 40th will be closed this Saturday, Oct. 12 due to a large voter registration/encouragement block party organized by “When We All Vote” and Welcome America. The Celebrate Philadelphia – When We All Vote Block Party will be held from 1 – 5 p.m. at 4029 Market Street outside the Satellite Election Office of the 3rd Council District. Market Street will be closed between 40th and Preston Streets from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

During the event, guests will be encouraged to take civic action – including checking their voter registration, registering to vote, or making a plan to vote.

The event will also include:

• A program/open dialogue by A Seat at the Table: The Power of Influence: How Digital Platforms and Influencers Impact Elections/Future Generations: Young Voters and Their Role in Shaping Tomorrow, featuring several notable panelists.

• Rodeo-themed games and pop ups like a mechanical bull, line dancing, corn hole, sack racing, and more.

• Food giveaways, including pizza courtesy of Pizza to the Polls and OnePhillyConnect, and other treats courtesy of Herr’s and Tony’s Chocolonely.

• Cowboy hat giveaways courtesy of When We All Vote.

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Community leaders, elected officials, and residents gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Satellite Election Office in West Philadelphia. (Photo by Khalif Chestnut)

The Philadelphia City Commissioners unveiled a new permanent “satellite” election office in West Philadelphia. The office officially opened on Tuesday morning at 5610 Lancaster Avenue. This is the third election office in Philadelphia and second in West Philadelphia. Seven more are expected to open across the city in the near future.

The office will provide such essential services as voter registration and mail-in and absentee ballot processing. It will be open seven days a week to serve the public ahead of the upcoming election.

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Tuesday’s primary election offers a chance to not only vote for president, but also some consequential local races – where the primary is often more important than the general election.

The links below will help you get ready to cast your ballot. Pennsylvania is a closed primary – at least for now – which means that you have to be a registered Democrat or Republican to vote for candidates. Independents can still weigh in on this election’s ballot measure related to registered community organizations (RCOs).

West Philly races

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

District 10 – This one is competitive on the Democratic side, with three candidates vying for the seat. Incumbent Amen Brown (you may have heard his campaign truck driving around the neighborhoods over the weekend) is running against community organizers Sajda Blackwell and Cass Green. The same three candidates ran for the seat in 2022, with Brown beating Green by 183 votes.

Brown’s largest single contributor is the Students First PAC, which contributed $25,000 to Brown’s campaign. The PAC is closely connected to billionaire Jeffrey Yass, a longtime supporter of school vouchers and charter schools.

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In an ongoing effort to make voting more accessible for Philadelphia citizens, the City Commissioners Office has opened the first of 10 new and permanent satellite election offices (SEO) at 4029 Market Street. The grand opening attended by state and city officials, including Mayor Cherelle Parker, took place this morning.

Satellite offices will be installed in all 10 council districts and will be open 7 days a week. At each office, residents will be able to register to vote, request and receive a mail ballot, complete it and return it.

“As Chairman Commissioner of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, I am thrilled to unveil the first of our 10 new Satellite Election Offices,” Chairman Sabir said prior to today’s event. “These offices represent a significant step forward in our commitment to making voting more accessible and convenient for all Philadelphia citizens.”

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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?

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