In Philly, it’s looking ‘messy’ at the polls – or is it?
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Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones greets voters at the polls in West Phildelphia, Tuesday, November 6, 2012. (Bas Slabbers/For NewsWorks)
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Voters line up to cast their ballots in the 2012 Presidential Election in West Philadelphia, Tuesday, November 6, 2012. (Bas Slabbers/For NewsWorks)
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<p>Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter gives the "thumbs up" sign after voting at the John Anderson Cultural Center on Election Day, November 6, 2012. (Bas Slabbers/For NewsWorks)</p>
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Community activist Luke Russell directs voters to two new polling locations in Germantown and offers rides in his pickup. The former polling location was moved for this election because of a of a handicapped access ramp that didn't meet federal requirements. (Dave Davies/WHYY)
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Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and wife Ann Romney vote in Belmont, Mass., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Children from?Arising Futures Child Care and Development Center urge passers by to vote at Green and Rittenhouse Streets in Germantown. (Shai Ben-Yaacov/WHYY)
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Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his son Beau Biden, his wife, Hallie and their daughter Natalie, stands in line to cast his ballot at Alexis I. duPont High School, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Greenville, Del. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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"Our normal polling place was without electricity. This is all a direct result of the hurricane," said Linda Koepplin, an election observer at Jadwin Gym on Princetown University's campus. Seven voting districts in New Jersey affected by power outages from last week's storm have been relocated to the Jadwin Gym. (Alan Tu/WHYY)
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State Rep. Dwight Evans votes at the Finley Recreation Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)
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A vote is cast in Philadelphia on Election Day. (Bas Slabbers for WHYY, file)
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<p>A mural of President Barack Obama is seen behind voting booths at Ben Franklin Elementary School in the Lawncrest neighborhood of Philadelphia on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. A judge has ordered election officials to cover the mural. (Photo courtesy of the Republican State Committee)</p>
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Sarah Graden took along son Owen, 3, to vote at the VA meeting hall in Fairmount. (Maiken Scott/WHYY)
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Scott Barclay and Audrey Comsgock ?brought their son, Henry Barclay Comsgock when casting their vote at Bache Martin elementary school in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia. (Maiken Scott/WHYY)
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Lee Schwartz, the leader of Philadelphia's 48th Ward, tries to fix problems with voting at Guerin Recreation Center at 16th and Jackson Streets. (Benjamin Herold/WHYY)
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Voters wait in line at Guerin Recreation Center at 16th and Jackson Streets in South Philadelphia. (Benjamin Herold/WHYY)
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Joseph Accardo of South Philadelphia (far right) said he voted for the candidates that would best protect his economic interests: Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican Senate candidate Tom Smith. ?"I think Romney is for the rich," said Accardo. (Benjamin Herold/WHYY)
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Kathleen Kane, democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General, right, walks with her son Chris Kane, 11, as she prepares to vote at a polling place in the Waverly Community House, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Waverly, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Pennsylvania Commonwealth Secretary Carol Aichele visits a polling location at the Norristown Library. (Jeanette Woods/WHYY)
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<p>Betty and Phil McGarrigan of Audobon, N.J. are driving around the region with "political dummies" to encourage voter turnout. (Benjamin Herold/WHYY)</p>
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<p>A judge ordered election officials to cover a mural of President Barack Obama at Ben Franklin Elementary School in the Lawncrest neighborhood of Philadelphia on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. (Photo courtesy of NBC 10)</p>
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Volunteer Samuel Brackeen was knocking on the doors in Glenside encouraging anyone at home to vote. For those who were not in, he was leaving a reminder sticker. (Jeanette Woods/WHYY)
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Ed Colavita helps to clean out the Ocean City Yacht Club after it was innundated by Hurricane Sandy. Those who usually vote at the club were sent to a nearby church to cast their ballots. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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Kathleen Wheatcraft waits with her dog outside of St. Francis Cabrini Church, a busy polling place in Ocean City. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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Ocean City residents Peter and Debbie Beck leave St. Francis Cabrini Church after voting. They said the President's handling of the storm didn't affect the way they voted. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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Susan Gailey and Joyce Bakley-Trofa tend the table for voters who usually vote at the Ocean City Yacht Club. The polling place was relocated to St. Francis Cabrini Church, where three other districts vote. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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<p>50, Sam Dow, voted for the first time today. (Kimberly Paynter for NewsWorks)</p>
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Voters arrive at the Union Avenue School in Margate. When the municipal building lost power because of Hurricane Sandy, an alternate polling place was arranged. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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First time voter Samantha DeCarlo draws back the curtain of a voting booth in Ventnor to ask her mother for help. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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Voters come and go at the busy Ventnor Community Building, which accommodated four voting districts rather than the usual two because of damage from Hurricane Sandy. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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A sign in front of the Price Memorial Church in Atlantic City directs voters to an alternate polling place. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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Long lines develop at the Ventnor Community Building, which usually serves two voting districts. The facility had to accomodate two extra districts displaced because of Hurricane Sandy. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
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(Bas Slabbers for WHYY, file)
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<p>Casey supporters watching results in Scranton. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)</p>
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<p>U.S. Sen. Bob Casey declares victory in his race versus Republican challenger Tom Smith. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)</p>
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Supporters cheer as election results are announced at the election night party for President Barack Obama Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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Supporters of President Barack Obama react to favorable media projections at the McCormick Place during an election night watch party in Chicago on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
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Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney arrives to his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, his wife Ann Romney, left and Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his wife Janna wave to supporters on stage during Romney's election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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President Barack Obama waves to his supporters at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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President Barack Obama waves as he walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Election Day voting is in full swing on this sunny, chilly day – despite the damage from superstorm Sandy and the confusion sowed by Pennsylvania’s long fight over voter ID. Check here all day for reports on turnout, problems at the polls and anecdotes of democracy in action.
10:17 a.m.
Stephanie Singer, chair of the Philadelphia city commissioners, just disputed the Committee of Seventy’s claim that the election is off to a messy start in the city.
She told Newsworks’ Dave Davies that it’s been “relatively quiet” in terms of problems and complaints.
From a polling place in Germantown, NewsWorks’ Brian Hickey reports the canard about straight-ticket voting not counting for president is being discussed by people in line. Ward leader tries to supplies correct info. (See 9 a.m. post below).
9:38 a.m.
“It’s looking like a messy election.”
That’s from Zack Stalberg, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, the city election watchdog.
Here’s the Committee’s first update on the day, based on reports from its volunteers on the phones and at the polls.
* Election Court is dealing with a host of minority (Republican) inspectors being denied access to their polling places in Philadelphia. (WHYY/NewsWorks’ Benjamin Herold reports this was an issue at the Guerin Recreation Center polling place (Ward 48, Division 13) in South Philly.
* The New Black Panthers reportedly showed up, though no one can find them now. Reports were that they were outside a polling place at 11th and Germantown streets. (NewsWorks’ attempts to find this activity or confirm it have so far not been successful.) Update: Committee of Seventy also reports no luck finding any sign of New Black Panther activity. (For background on who they are and why it matters, see 9 a.m. post below.) Also, reports are the Mayor Nutter himself went to the area to check out the report and found nothing.
* There are “You need a photo ID to vote” signs at a number of polling places. Seventy has asked the City Commissioners to have Judges of Elections take those signs down immediately. . You don’t need a photo ID to vote today in Pennsylvania, though elections officials are supposed to ask you if you have one.
* A polling place at 7th and Cayoga Streets – in the city’s Latino area – has numerous voters who do not speak English – and reportedly no interpreter in sight.
Here are a few updates from our Northwest Philadephia news team:
One of the two voting machines at Allens Lane Art Center in Mt. Airy was broken when polls opened this morning. He says a technician was on the way and the line was moving more smoothly by 8 a.m.
Turnout was heavy early today at the Lingelbach Elementary School in Germantown today. NewsWorks contributor Kiera Smalls talked to some in line who said they were going to leave and come back later to vote.
Ruby Payette, a young first-time voter from Mount Airy in Philadelphia, summed up the emotions of a lot of people on this anxious day as America elects a president: “I’ve been talking to some friends that I know are voting for opposing parties from me,” she said. “I’m kinda scared, but at the same time excited. Because I get to have a say in my president.”
9:20 a.m.
From Deptford, N.J., WHYY/NewsWorks’ Tom MacDonald reports:
At the three polling places inside the old public works building, the morning traffic was brisk. Not a huge turnout but a steady stream. The mood was excited and friendly, and coloring books were being handed out to children who were waiting in line with their parents.
9 a.m.
Early reports to the Committee of Seventy, the Philadelphia election watchdog group, indicated a number of Republican poll watchers have reported problems getting access to polling places or being treated rudely by election workers. A number of cases have been referred to today’s Election Court.
Also, there is a report of members of the New Black Panthers Party allegedly intimidating voters in a polling place on Germantown Avenue east of Broad Street. An incident in 2008 at a Spring Garden Street polling place involving members of this group became a national cause celebre, as some conservatives claimed it showed the Obama Justice Department was slow to pursue complaints of intimidation against Republican voters.
The Committee of Seventy is also hearing numerous complaints that voters are being told they need to produce photo identification to vote. A new state law requiring voters to show photo ID was suspended for this election by a Pennsylvania judge, who said the state hadn’t done enough to help people obtain the needed ID.
The committee also put out an alert about an email being distributed around Philadelphia that tells people, falsely, that pulling a straight Democratic Party lever in the voting booth will not register as a vote for President Obama. This is not true. Straight party votes for either the Republican or Democratic parties will register a voter for the party’s presidential nominee.
8 a.m.
Here are a few key phone numbers to keep close by today:
To report problems or ask questions about voting in storm-tossed New Jersey, call 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837). That is the official state line.
To find your polling place in New Jersey, and some were shifted due to the storm, use the New Jersey Department of State site.
The New Jersey League of Women Voters also has an informational hotline: 800-792-VOTE.
In Philadelphia, to report issues, you can call the Committee of Seventy hotline, at 866-OURVOTE.
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has provided two numbers for reporting incidents of voter intimidation: 215-686-9641 and 215-686-9643. Philly DA Williams providing these numbers for voters to report allegations of intimidation.
In Philadelphia, the number to call to report a malfunctioning voting machine is 215-686-1590.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, the number to contact state election officials to report problems is 717-787-5280.
To find your polling place in Pennsylvania, use this site.
In Delaware, the number is 877-270-8300 Delaware Commissioner of Elections
Also in New Jersey, the New Jersey News Collaborative has set up a line to create a crowd-sourced running report of how things are going at the polls. The number is 732-903-VOTE. You can also report issues on Twitter using the hashtag #NJVote, or post your reports on an online mapping tool at NJVote.crowdmap.com.
It’s important to keep in mind that these News Collaborative tools are only informational; using them does not put you in touch with official election authorities.
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