Philadelphia voters are encouraged to check registration status as the deadline approaches

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — With just over two weeks until Election Day, the presidential candidates continue to crisscross battleground states, including Pennsylvania.

There was a last-minute push in the Keystone State on Monday because it was the last day to register to vote.

“We are excited to be here at CCP and host a party during the election,” said Beth Lynk, executive director of When We All Vote, a nonpartisan group that knew how important it was on the community college campus to be from Philadelphia.

“Today is the last day to register in Pennsylvania,” Lynk said.

“It really matters whether you’re older or younger. “Everyone’s voice counts,” said Sean Kan, Jr. of Collingdale, Pennsylvania, as he attended the event.

Jael Moble, a freshman at the Community College of Philadelphia, agreed.

“Everyone in Philadelphia needs to go out and vote and see it as no joke,” she said, “because it is not a joke. It’s serious!”

Several events were held off-campus across the city to raise awareness about the importance of voting.

“It is very important that we all vote. No matter who you vote for, it’s important to vote,” said Sherri Irvis-Hill, a volunteer at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.

At the church in Philadelphia, hundreds gathered for a meal and to learn more about the POWER Interfaith Movement, which focuses on the importance of voting.

“We want people to think about what is really important to them about the election. What is your self-interest? And then you start thinking about the people in your family and community who are not engaged,” said Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, a pastor at Mother Bethel AME Church and leader of Black Faith Votes of Power Interfaith.

Voter registration events saw a high turnout, as Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein said thousands of city residents showed up to register to vote on Monday.

“In addition, thousands of people have also applied online to register,” Bluestein said.

He added that of the city's 1.6 million eligible voters, about a million are registered.

“We hope voter turnout will be similar, if not higher, but ultimately what matters is that Philadelphians vote on Election Day,” Bluestein said.

Although many have registered to vote, there are concerns that turnout could be low.

RELATED | To cast a ballot in Pennsylvania, voters must be registered by October 21st

“If the election were held today, we would have 100,000 fewer voters than in 2020,” said Omar Sabir, chairman of the Philadelphia City Commissioners.

Sabir's office receives a steady stream of calls from constituents. Many of them had questions about their mail-in ballots.

Speaking to Action News Monday afternoon, Sabir said there were issues with nearly 4,000 ballots in the city at last audit. These include ballots that the Postal Service was unable to deliver to residents due to address issues and ballots where a voter's ID could not be verified.

It also includes about 1,300 ballots that may not be counted because voters made a mistake.

“I didn’t sign the return envelope and didn’t give the date or gave it an incorrect date,” Sabir said, giving examples of things that could have gone wrong.

For some voters, the mistake was not putting the ballot in the yellow secrecy envelope. Philadelphia does not contact voters whose ballots had problems. Instead, they list the names of those voters online.

Lauren Cristela said surrounding counties typically reach out to voters whose ballots have problems. She said Allegheny County will send ballots with issues back to voters.

“We encourage everyone to go to vote.phila.gov to see if their names, their neighbors, their friends happen to be on this list,” said Cristella, president and CEO of Committee of Seventy, a nonprofit organization. Partisan group that educates and advocates for voters.

Cristella said residents of surrounding counties can also check the status of their ballot online.

“You should go to www.vote.pa.gov, there is a little tracker right in that system,” Cristella said.

While a voter can check the status of their ballot online, Cristella said any corrections must be made in person at a elections office.

Philadelphia has 10 new satellite polling stations open daily to residents.

Additional Resources:

The list of Philadelphia voters whose ballots have problems can be found here: vote.phila.gov

For help tracking a ballot, visit: www.pa.gov

Pennsylvania voting information and resources: www.pa.gov

Register to vote: www.pa.gov