By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All!
On Monday, October 18, 2022 - the state of Georgia and several other states began Early Voting!!
I
admit that I'm suffering from semi-Freudian case of "Early Voting
Envy!" As I watched the turn out of voters in Georgia, who lined up in
record numbers - over 131,000 on the first day - October 18, 2022 - to
cast their ballots, I jealously wondered why Pennsylvania didn't have
early voting., too?
After all, our candidates are just as pivotal as theirs.
We have as many evil, duplicitour candidates as Georgia!!
Our election outcome is just as important as theirs.
We have as many charlatans as they do that we have to defeat (Oz and Mastriano to mention a few).
And, like Georgia, we're under the magnifying glass of history - with Maga/maggot/rightwingnuts circling us like vultures.
Like Georgia, we've got our own posers/interlopers - they have Herschel Walker, we have Dr. Oz.
We have our own maniacs - Mastriano to their Marjorie Taylor Greene.
So,
for the life of me, I don't understand why we don't have at least 150
polling sites with voting machines interspersed throughout Philly,
Harrisburg, Pittsburg, and other major metropolitan ares through
Pennsylvania, so people can show up??!!??
After
all, we take the same personal pride in slamming down that lever on the
voting machine exercising our right to vote in real time!!
WE love that same surge of power they are getting to enjoy in Georgia!
What
a thrill to walk out of that booth and look at some repuglycon tool
with that glint of victory on our faces - it's so inspiring! so
contagious!!
WHAT AN ADRENALIN RUSH!!
Why does Georgia get to have all the fun of early voting?
So, I must admit this Early Polling Envy is really messing with me!!!
I've heard excuses why we don't have it in Pennsylvania - but that dog won't hunt.
They
managed to do it during the 2020 Presidential election after Dejoy
launched an attack on our mail boxes and mailing facilities.
It
didn't take any legislation to make it happen then, just common sense.
And it shouldn't take any legislation to make it happen now!
We are in crises mode - now even more so than we were during the 2020 presidential election.
We need to demand that the Pennsylvania state legislators make it happen the same way they did in 2020 - over night!
There's
still time. They were able to open Wells Fargo Arena, and other major
facilities throughout the city to accommodate voters - and extended the
polls opening until late in the evening.
And
there should be at least 2 or more places in each Zip Code throughout
Philadelphia - to make it easier for voters to have access to drop
boxes!
IJS!!!
In
the interim, since we don't have voting machines strategically placed
throughout the state to make it easier to vote early, we still have the
option of voting by mail, and then dropping our ballots off at the 18
drop boxes listed below.
Frankly, I think 18 boxes are not enough!
At least 50 or more to make it easier for the voters would make much better sense.
To be honest, my reconciliation to using drop boxes, instead of in person early voting, didn't come easy.
I voiced my concerns to Omar Sabir and Lisa Deeley, Commisioners in charge of Elections in Philadelphia.
Mr.
Sabir explained that, while the use of the drop boxes for our mail in
votes was small compensation to actually having early polling places
throughout the city, it at least gave us options. And I guess he does
have a point there!
Two
years ago, during the 2020 elections, Pennsylvania implemented early
voting a scant two weeks prior to election day - after T-rump's hired
lackey Dejoy started dismantling the postal service so that mail in
votes wouldn't arrive in time to be counted.
I assumed that Pennsylvania would continue to allow early voting for other crucial elections such as the 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS!
However I apparently was incorrect. You know what they say about never ASS.U.ME
Even
though mail in ballots are still being encouraged, Dejoy is still
tampering with the mail, you have to wonder if he's still carrying out
T-rump's orders.
The 2022
MIDTERM ELECTIONS is even more of an emergency - implementing polls
for early voting should have been top of mind even before the May
Primary. SMH
So,
since we didn't get early voting like Georgia, we absolutely have to
make lemon merengue pie out the lemons we've been handed and line up to
personally put in our MAIL IN BALLOTS in the designated drop boxes in
record numbers.
We have to turn out in such record numbers, others will think that we have early voting just like Georgia!!
So,
I'm furnishing the addresses of the drop boxes around Philadelphia so
those of us who have already opted for mail-in ballots can be assured
our ballots are getting counted, and that there are no "Dejoy degenerate
machinations" to prevent our ballots getting to the right hands and
counted appropriately.
Did I mention that there are 18 only Voter Drop boxes for over a million voters in Philadelphia thus far !! Seriously??
Are we in the same Midterm Crises as the rest of the US?
We need to issue Harrisburg a wake up call!
Perhaps
we can muster up the same fervor we had two years ago when they
established drop boxes at Wells Fargo Arena, and other major, high
capacity places about town, that people frequently visit so we can have
massive voter turnout!!!
Of
course, prior to my accepting drop boxes as an alternative, I
contacted Stephanie Myers, chair/founder of Black Women For Positive
Change, to find out what they recommended in order to have early voting
established in Philly again. She, in turn, put me in contact with Ms.
Alma Couverthie, National Chair of the League of Women Voters. As you
know, the League of Women Voters is no joke when it comes to making sure
our votes get counted, and that we know our rights as voters. Alma
provided me the list of the 18 Voting Drop Boxes scattered around
Philly.
BTW: I did mention there are only 18 Voter Drop boxes for over a million voters in Philadelphia - Right? SMH
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Alma Couverthie she/hers/ella
National Organizing Director
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I want to thank National Chair of the League of Women Voters, Alma Couverthie, who forwarded the information on dropbox locations and links to information on "early voting" in Pennsylvania
https://vote.phila.gov/voting/vote-by-mail/vote-by-mail/
Scroll down and you will see a prominent notice
that essentially states, once ballots are ready, a voter can come to the
Elections office, apply for a ballot and complete it at the same time.
That is the only early voting that can be done
anywhere in Pa. A person can drop their ballot off anytime at the
Elections office prior to Midterm Election Day, November 8, at 8 pm - or use the ballot boxes at
the locations below:
For more Philly’s mail ballot drop boxes, the Philadelphia Inquirer posted this link: (https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philadelphia-mail-ballot-drop-box-locations-map-20221013.html)
- 1) City Hall (south side of building), 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107
- 2) Riverview Place, 520 N. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19123
- 3) Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19130
- 4) Markward Playground, 400 S. Taney St., Philadelphia, PA 19146
- 5) Pelbano Rec. Center, 8101 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19152
- 6) Ford PAL Rec. Center, 609 Snyder Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19148
- 7) Smith Playground, 2100 S. 24th St., Philadelphia, PA 19145
- 8) Vogt Rec. Center, 4131 Unruh Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19135
- 9) Independence Branch Library, 18 S. 7th St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
- 10) Dorothy Emanuel Rec. Center, 8500 Pickering St., Philadelphia, PA 19150
- 11) Pleasant Playground, 305 Slocum St., Philadelphia, PA 19119
- 12) Shissler Rec. Center, 1800 Blair St., Philadelphia, PA 19125
- 13) Corporal Jimmy O’Connor Memorial Playground (formerly Chalfont Playground), 4382 Deerpath Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19154
- 14) Stenton Playground, 4600 N. 16th St., Philadelphia, PA 19140
- 15) Shepard Rec. Center, 5700 Haverford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19131
- 16) Kendrick Rec. Center, 5800 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128
- 17) Election Warehouse, 11311 Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19154
- 18) Kingsessing Recreation Center, 4901 Kingsessing Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19143
For all voting related information, here is our
https://www.vote411.org/
You can find everything that you need in all 50 states and DC, by typing your address or using the interactive map.
This information is both in English and in Spanish.
Please let me know if there is anything else that you may need.
In solidarity,
Alma
NOTE:
Monday, October 24 is the last day for Voter Registration nationally
and locally. November 1, 2022 is the last day to request mail in
ballots. In addition to our youth - our Gen z's - there are a number of
Seniors who still need to register, who have moved from their original
homes into Senior Living Facilities. It has been reported that there
are some Senior Facilities that are not allowing seniors to have on-site
voter registration. This is in violation of their rights - if you come
across situations like this, please report it, and also let the senior
know that he/she has every right to register to vote on their place of
residence.
Also, please show
Seniors and others who want to vote in person how to locate their
polling places - either by google - furnishing their address and zip
code; or by contacting the Philadelphia COMMITTEE OF 70 - so they can
get accurate information, since many of traditional polling places have
changed.
THIS,
OF COURSE, IS NOT GOING TO BE MY LAST PIECE ON MIDTERM VOTING - AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF OUR RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE - THE ONLY THING I
ASK OF YOU IS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE REGISTERED; HAVE A PLAN TO VOTE, AND
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO AND HAVE YOUR ID WITH YOU. Y/OUR MIDTERM
VOTES MATTER - ESPECIALLY NOW - MORE THAN EVER!! AND REMEMBER
VOTE BLUE - NO MATTER WHO!!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
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