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.”
guess I'm not voting today.— jgeneric
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- And you thought every Judge was a stooge for the Democratic City Committee?— PaulDeon
- 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.— fafafooey
- longshanks, what union are you in?— jlcharles
- 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— TomSmith
- 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!— flyersfan74
- 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.— Bud Fox
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- 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.— jlcharles
- I voted for the Republicans today. I am a Teamster, but I will not let this inbred Democratic take my vote for granted.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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