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Key people to be elected, but turnout tomorrow looks to be light

A light turnout is expected tomorrow as voters in Philadelphia choose party candidates for district attorney, city controller and several local and statewide judgeships.

District Attorney Lynne Abraham reads from a sample ballot today during a press conference regarding tomorrow's primary election. (Sarah J. Glover / Staff Photographer)
District Attorney Lynne Abraham reads from a sample ballot today during a press conference regarding tomorrow's primary election. (Sarah J. Glover / Staff Photographer)Read more

NOTE: THIS STORY HAS BEEN CORRECTED

A light turnout is expected tomorrow as voters in Philadelphia choose party candidates for district attorney, city controller and several local and statewide judgeships.

"I hope people will come out," said Committee of Seventy President Zack Stalberg. "We're still in a financial and public-safety crisis, and we're choosing people who will run for the positions that will deal with those issues."

Democrats Brian Grady, Dan McCaffery, Dan McElhatton, Michael Turner and Seth Williams have waged a spirited battle for their party's nomination for district attorney. It's the first D.A.'s election for an open seat since 1985.

Republican District Attorney candidate Michael Untermeyer is unopposed.

Incumbent City Controller Alan Butkovitz is battling Brett Mandel, former executive director of Philadelphia Forward, and former Common Pleas Judge John Braxton for the Democratic nomination. Al Schmidt is unopposed on the Republican ballot.

Party primaries also are taking place for six statewide judicial posts: one on the State Supreme Court, three on Superior Court and two on Commonwealth Court.

In Philadelphia, 33 candidates are competing for seven seats on the Common Pleas Court bench, and four on Municipal Court.

Here's some basic information on balloting, and where to turn for more information:

* Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. If you're a first-time voter at your polling place, you should bring identification.

* If you're not registered, it's too late for this election. If you're registered but not sure where to vote, you can find out at www.phillyelection.com or www.votespa.com or at the Committee of Seventy's site, www.phillyvoter.org.

If you know your ward and division (which are on your voter-registration card), you can look up your polling place in ads in today's newspapers.

If none of that works, call the city commissioners at 215-686-1590.

* If you have questions or problems voting tomorrow, you can call a hot line sponsored by the Committee of Seventy and the League of Women Voters, at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

* You can get information about candidates and polling locations at the League of Women Voters' Smart Voter project site, www.smartvoter.org.

CORRECTION: The number for the hotline sponsored by the Committee of Seventy and the League of Women Voters was incorrectly listed as 1-866-268-8603.  The correct number is 1-866-OUR-VOTE.