Just a reminder that today is primary election day. We wanted to pass along a few things to keep in mind as you head to the polls, which are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You are allowed to vote as long as you are in line by 8 p.m.

Pennsylvania conducts closed primaries, so you can only vote for candidates from the party for which you are registered. If you are registered Independent, sorry no primary candidates for you, but you can still vote on the four city ballot measures.

Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate, state house and senate are on the ballot.

Here are the basics: Continue Reading

Residents of Spruce Hill, Cedar Park, Garden Court and other West Philly neighborhoods will have a chance to hear from some local Democratic political candidates this week, ahead of the May 17 primary election. The 27th Ward of the Philadelphia Democratic Committee is hosting a Candidates’ Forum on Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m. with the following participants:

• State Rep. Rick Krajewski, incumbent (188th District)

• State Rep. Candidate James Wright (188th District)

• State Senator Anthony H. Williams, incumbent (8th District)

• State Senator Candidate Paul Prescod (8th District) Continue Reading

Today is Election Day and polls are open until 8 p.m. Click here to find your polling place and click here to check your registration status.

Four local ballot measures include a question that would “call on the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor to decriminalize the use of non-medical marijuana.” Another asks if you would like the City to set aside a small portion of the budget each year (0.5 percent or about $25 million this year) to fund affordable housing programs.

Two local offices are on today’s ballot: district attorney and city controller. Incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, is expected to cruise to victory. Incumbent Rebecca Rhynhart is a shoe-in for city controller – she is running unopposed.

Several judicial seats are also on the ballot. A rundown of the Pa. Supreme Court election and other state and local courts is here.

The Philadelphia City Commissioners will again be partnering with the Philadelphia Eagles to hold a mobile staffed mail-in and absentee ballot drop-off event at Lincoln Financial Field ahead of the Nov. 2 General Election. The event with the Eagles will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23, from Noon until 2 p.m. in Lot K at Lincoln Financial Field. Personnel from the Board of Elections will be on hand to collect the ballots.

Another mobile ballot drop-off event will take place in West Philadelphia on the same day. From 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., residents have a chance to drop off their voted absentee or mail-in ballot at W.C. Longstreth Elementary School, 5700 Willows Ave. For more mobile ballot drop-off events scheduled in other city neighborhoods, click here. Continue Reading

Philadelphia will likely (almost assuredly) elect its district attorney for the next four years on Tuesday.

Incumbent Larry Krasner, a former defense attorney who won in 2017 on a reform agenda, faces former prosecutor Carlos Vega in the Democratic primary. Attorney Charles Peruto Jr. is running unopposed in the GOP primary. The winner of each primary will contest the general election on Nov. 2. Pennsylvania has closed primaries, so you will only be able to vote for candidates from the party for which you are registered. Philadelphia has not elected a Republican district attorney since 1986 (Ron Castille). Continue Reading

Here’s a chance to hear from Philadelphia District Attorney candidates – Democrat Larry Krasner (the incumbent), Carlos Vega, a retired prosecutor (D), and Chuck Peruto, a criminal defense attorney (R). All three are scheduled to participate in a public forum organized by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Chapter.

The forum will take place online on Thursday, May 6 from 6 to 7 p.m. and will be moderated by Tamala Edwards, ABC News Anchor. Registration is required at http://bit.ly/DistrictAttorney2021 Continue Reading