Millennials seem indifferent about Phila. primary

Jay Turner, 32, has been registered to vote since he was 18. Not only does he not know when the next city election is, he has no idea who the candidates are, either.

"I work too much to watch TV," said Turner, a chef in Northern Liberties.

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the May 19 Democratic primary election. Given that 335,000 people ages 18 to 34 are registered - and that there are approximately 459,000 Philadelphians ages 20 to 34 - it seems that millennials might vote in strong numbers.

But Philadelphia's millennials - generally those young adults born after 1980 - apparently don't have much interest in voting. Data analyzed by the Next Mayor, a reporting project on the coming primary, shows that 40 percent to 70 percent of the city's eligible young voters have not voted in the last five years.

Several young adults, ages 20 to 34, questioned Friday said they were registered to vote - all as Democrats - but do not know about or have not paid attention to the city elections just a month away.

Some did not know when the primary is. When prompted, one woman guessed, "November?"

Like many of those questioned, Sharif Small, 30, a Philadelphia native and co-owner of a sneakers store in Northern Liberties, said he didn't really care about the local election. He did say he would vote for Anthony Hardy Williams for mayor because he is a family friend.

"I also like some of the ideas he's coming out with," Small said.

However, Small said he did not know anything about the City Council candidates who will also be on the May primary ballot.

Trisha Das, 28, who moved to Philadelphia from Montgomery County seven years ago, said that although she is registered to vote in Philadelphia, it is unlikely she will vote in the primary.

"I just feel like there's nothing really they can do for me," she said. "I don't really get benefits out of anything, because of my income. There's really nothing that will benefit me from them coming into office.

"It's not something that interests me at all," she added.

Not everyone feels as disenfranchised and disenchanted.

Alex Orgera, 30, a New York native who lives in West Philadelphia, said she was trying to understand the candidates and issues.

"It's the one chance that most people have to be able to actually influence the government and policy, even though it doesn't always feel super-direct," she said.

hwu@philly.com

215-854-2609 @huizhong-wu