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City Commissioner’s Office talks voting at GRASP meeting

One of the best ways to get people to vote is to engaged with them by knocking on doors in the neighborhood and getting them registered before the Oct. 9 deadline to register if you wish to vote in the upcoming Nov. 6 election.

Lisa Deeley, chair of Philadelphia’s Voting Division in the City Commissioner’s Office, attended last week’s Grassroots Advocacy for South Philadelphia meeting to talk to voters about how to get people more engaged with American democracy.

Lisa Deeley, chair of Philadelphia’s Voting Division in the City Commissioner’s Office, attended last week’s Grassroots Advocacy for South Philadelphia meeting to talk to voters about how to get people more engaged with American democracy.

“Elections really matter,” she said at the meeting. “We want to make sure that everybody who is eligible is registered and does take part in the process.”

Deeley was particularly concerned about the nationwide trend of low voter turnout compared to other countries.

“People are not voting,” she said. “It’s not something that’s just in Philadelphia, but it’s really a problem. We need to figure out what it is.”

She said one of the best ways to get people to vote is to engage with them by knocking on doors in the neighborhood and getting them registered before the Oct. 9 deadline to register if they wish to vote in the upcoming Nov. 6 election. Deeley said the commissioner’s office, located at 520 N. Columbus Blvd, will be open until midnight that night accepting applications. However, it’s best not to wait until the last minute.

“The sooner we get the applications in, the sooner we can begin the process of registering people,” she said.

To register to vote, Philadelphia residents — or any residents of Pennsylvania for that matter — can access the state’s online registration form or print out an online paper copy form at pavoterservices.pa.gov.

Deeley said the trickiest part of the application for Philadelphia residents is that the address form of the registration asks for a city, county and municipality. If you’re a Philadelphia resident, the answer to all of these questions is “Philadelphia.”

Anybody who will be 18 years of age or older on or before Nov. 6 can register to vote for the upcoming election.

Deeley said the commissioner’s office is happy to help with events such as voter registration drives.

“We’re happy to help if you want to have a drive or an event,” she said. “We’re willing to help supplement it in any way we can with staff or forms or information.”

What’s the best way to make sure people vote after you’ve registered them? Badger them about it, she said.

“Stay in touch with people to text them and remind them to vote,” she said, noting to be persistent. “It takes that kind of constant reinforcement. It’s like a shame game.”

For more information about the Philadelphia City Commissioner’s office, visit philadelphiavotes.com.

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