It’s time to vote! Fill out your ballot with a black or blue pen for all the Democrats and vote yes for all the ballot questions. Once filled out, put the ballot in the secrecy envelope, sign the 2^nd outside envelope (no naked ballots!) and drop it in the mail or at your Board of Elections Satellite Office. In Northwest Philadelphia, your nearest location is Roxborough High School at 6498 Ridge Avenue or A.B. Day School at 6324 Crittenden Street in Mt. Airy (open as of October 13). You can use any satellite office or dropbox in your county. We’ve tried it out, and it’s that easy.

If you haven’t registered, requested, or received a ballot – there’s still time. You have until October 19 to register. Go to pavoterservices.pa.gov or go to one of the satellite offices. Registering allows you to vote with a paper ballot by mail/early voting OR in-person on Election Day, November 3^rd, 2020 at your local polling place. You can register and vote on the same day up until October 19^th at the Philadelphia Board of Elections Office or one of its satellite offices.  

You have until October 27 to request your Mail-In Ballot, although we don’t recommend waiting. To request a Mail-In Ballot go to:votespa.com/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx or go to a satellite office. Get your ballot and return it asap so that it’s ready and waiting to be counted bright and early on November 3^rd.   

The Philadelphia Board of Elections is committed to counting ballots around the clock until they are done. The Board is collecting completed ballots every day through November 3 and getting them ready for the machines that will do most of the work. The machines will cut open the envelopes, scan all the information and count your votes.

Once again, the 9^th Ward recommends voting early – it’s safe and efficient. Please, let us know if you have any questions at info@9thwarddems.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/NinthWardDems/

Barbara Thomson is a 9^th Ward Democratic Committeeperson.