Final day for absentee ballots brings out throngs to Philly City Hall

Voters formed a long line in Philadelphia City Hall last week to get their absentee ballots. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

Voters formed a long line in Philadelphia City Hall last week to get their absentee ballots. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

On the final day to register for an absentee ballot in Pennsylvania, the line was long in Philadelphia City Hall.

Throngs of would-be voters snaked outside the election office, hoping to secure a ballot on the deadline day. They had a variety of reasons for getting the ballot ahead of time instead of getting out to the polls Nov. 6.

“I’m actually due to have my baby on the sixth, and I want to prepare in case I’m in the hospital,” said Krista Gilmore.

Andrea Clark will be traveling, but she wanted to make sure her displeasure with government is heard.

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“We want to change Congress, to make sure that, in my opinion, we have checks and balances — and we don’t have the Supreme Court, the presidency and the Congress being the same party,” she said. “So that’s my objective.”

Absentee ballots must be turned in to county election offices in Pennsylvania by Friday.

Military or overseas voters have until Monday to submit ballots, but they must be received by the county office no later than Nov. 13.

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