Saturday, 31 October 2020: Voting in Philadelphia
Even though politics have been an important part of my life...my parents argued over politics at the dinner table year 'round even though they were both Yellow Dog Democrats**...I rarely discuss them here. Right now, however, I'm going to talk about Philadelphia politics specifically, thanks to an article by Nick Corasaniti in today's New York Times.
The city, which is the beating heart of Democratic support in this crucial battleground state, has been returning absentee ballots at a relatively high rate, with 74 percent returned as of Saturday.
One of those was mine, the first time I've ever voted by mail.
But Philadelphia, where 38 percent of registered voters requested absentee ballots, did not embrace the method as strongly as Allegheny County - home to Pittsburgh and the other major Democratic county in the state - where 44 percent of registered voters requested absentee ballots.
Part of that is because the Democratic Party in Philadelphia began telling voters this month that they should instead focus on in-person voting, and part of that is because the city has a strong Election Day voting tradition, which was evident on Saturday as canvassers knocked on numerous doors and were greeted with supportive fist pumps and pledges to vote early on Election Day.
I seriously considered waiting and voting in person on November 3rd but met with vigorous resistance from John. In line with my resolution not to be a burden to others during the coronavirus pandemic, I mailed my ballot in on 29 September.
John and Pam not only have already voted in person, but they are working the polls for the first time. The polling place they are working fronts on a parking lot where citizens will line up to vote. John and Pam will work the parking lot, keeping the people in line six feet apart and orderly, and will then let them in to vote as the poll workers inside are ready for them.
Go Philadelphia, you old, tough, working-class city! I love you and I know you'll do your damnedest to put Pennsylvania in the Biden column. FanSee
**As in, "I'd vote for a yellow dog before I'd vote for a Republican."
The city, which is the beating heart of Democratic support in this crucial battleground state, has been returning absentee ballots at a relatively high rate, with 74 percent returned as of Saturday.
One of those was mine, the first time I've ever voted by mail.
But Philadelphia, where 38 percent of registered voters requested absentee ballots, did not embrace the method as strongly as Allegheny County - home to Pittsburgh and the other major Democratic county in the state - where 44 percent of registered voters requested absentee ballots.
Part of that is because the Democratic Party in Philadelphia began telling voters this month that they should instead focus on in-person voting, and part of that is because the city has a strong Election Day voting tradition, which was evident on Saturday as canvassers knocked on numerous doors and were greeted with supportive fist pumps and pledges to vote early on Election Day.
I seriously considered waiting and voting in person on November 3rd but met with vigorous resistance from John. In line with my resolution not to be a burden to others during the coronavirus pandemic, I mailed my ballot in on 29 September.
John and Pam not only have already voted in person, but they are working the polls for the first time. The polling place they are working fronts on a parking lot where citizens will line up to vote. John and Pam will work the parking lot, keeping the people in line six feet apart and orderly, and will then let them in to vote as the poll workers inside are ready for them.
Go Philadelphia, you old, tough, working-class city! I love you and I know you'll do your damnedest to put Pennsylvania in the Biden column. FanSee
**As in, "I'd vote for a yellow dog before I'd vote for a Republican."