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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
No Late Voting Tonight, Polls Will Close At 8 PM As Usual

Ellen Kaplan, vice president and policy director for the Committee of 70 just reported from Election Court that a motion to keep polling places open an extra hour tonight has been denied.

"Although the Judge was 'extremely sympathetic' to voters who are experiencing any inconvenience due to the SEPTA strike, the ruling was that 'there is just not enough of an undue burden or hardship shown' to 'overturn the statute,'" Kaplan emailed.

The Democratic City Committee, Mayor Nutter, District Attorney candidate Seth Williams, the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity and the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP had all asked for the one hour extension on voting hours, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The Philadelphia City Commission, which runs elections here, opposed the request for an extra hour of voting time, saying the logistics of alerting every polling place in the city were too difficult.

The Democratic City Committee just released this statement from Sam Stretton, the attorney who argued its case in Election Court:  “This is an extremely unfortunate decision by the Board of Elections that will potentially disenfranchise thousands of Philadelphia voters who rely heavily on public transportation and who may not be able to get to their polling places in time as a result of the late, surprise strike called overnight by the largest of the SEPTA unions.”

 

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 2:59 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
Comments   
Posted 03:28 PM, 11/03/2009
jgeneric
guess I'm not voting today.
Posted 03:34 PM, 11/03/2009
longshanks
Republicans are jumping for joy. This means less votes...which they love.
Posted 04:22 PM, 11/03/2009
Hulk
No surprise as to the outcome of any election being held in philadelphia. We already know that the stupid, moronic electorate will vote for the democrats. That's why the city is in such fine shape. (isn't it)?
Posted 04:24 PM, 11/03/2009
PaulDeon
And you thought every Judge was a stooge for the Democratic City Committee?
Posted 04:30 PM, 11/03/2009
fafafooey
PaulDeon, just wait... the day is not done. They will find a judge to rule the Democrat way. And longshanks and the KosKooKs/0bamaACORN/Big Law would go apesh*t if a judge kept suburban polls open an extra hour. Meaning fewer votes of thinking people... which Democrats would love.
Posted 04:41 PM, 11/03/2009
jlcharles
longshanks, what union are you in?
Posted 04:57 PM, 11/03/2009
TomSmith
Why would he be a union guy. It's the Dems that want to extend the hours. All those inner city mass transit people. Though I too expect they will find a lefty judge that will probably let the inner phone it in
Posted 05:08 PM, 11/03/2009
flyersfan74
Union people not being able to get to vote because a Union went on strike sounds like Karma to me - No Sympathy what so ever Let the Republicans come into power and Break the Septa Union - Fire them all. I voted Republican for the first time in 20 years today - and if this strike goes on much longer, I am going to change my registration too - Frack Septa!
Posted 05:17 PM, 11/03/2009
Bud Fox
longshanks, I don't think republicans need to worry about voter turnout implications, I think you Dems have done just plenty over the past few months to help their cause during this election.
Posted 05:25 PM, 11/03/2009
longshanks
I hate unions nitwit. I also hate Republicans and social conservatives. Right Hulk like the stupid moronic electorate that has given us Republican Presidents for 28 of the last 40 years. No wonder our nation is in a downward spiral. Look in the mirror, you're the problem.
Posted 05:31 PM, 11/03/2009
longshanks
BTW, why should Dems vote for Republicans when Republicans don't vote for Dems? You're nothing but hypocrites...as usual.
Posted 06:09 PM, 11/03/2009
jlcharles
Baaaaaa....the problem isn't from one party. It's politicians period and the mindless sheep like yourself who keep electing the same people forever. The democrats have controlled Philly for the last 50 years. Things are going so well there. You're an angry little boy.
Posted 07:21 PM, 11/03/2009
Mark Chalupa
I voted for the Republicans today. I am a Teamster, but I will not let this inbred Democratic take my vote for granted.
13 comments
About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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Catherine Lucey
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