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April 22, 2023


A ranked-choice voting poll for the mayoral race


With less than a month to go before the May 16 primary, no one really knows the state of the mayor’s race because there haven’t been any public, nonpartisan polls. Until now. We’re excited to announce that Seventy will be running a mayoral poll using ranked-choice voting (RCV), a popular reform in other cities that allows voters to express more of their voice in the electoral process. The poll is being conducted in partnership with FairVote, the national leader in RCV reform, as well as the Urban Affairs Coalition, The Philadelphia Citizen and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. 

Try out RCV: Only 1,000 city residents will be contacted as part of the scientific poll, but everyone else can try out RCV with this web-based survey.



C70 mayoral event: We’ll host a May 4 forum (7-8:30 pm) for mayoral candidates that will give voters a chance to focus on the big issues two weeks before the election. Stay tuned for details. The forum is part of the Every Voice, Every Vote project. Register.

Super PAC mailers defying court order?


A new mailer from the super PAC aligned with mayoral candidate Jeff Brown is turning up in Philadelphia mail boxes despite Board of Ethics objections and a court order directing the PAC from spending further money to influence the election. The mailer doesn’t mention the candidate by name but calls for “a new leader” for the city. Brown is the only top contender never to have held public office.

Super spending: The Inquirer reports that super PACs active in the race have already spent $5 million. Allan Domb is the only major candidate not backed by a super PAC, but his campaign is bolstered by $7 million of his own money.


Kudos to the Ethics Board: We applaud the Board for fighting with every tool at its disposal. The members and staff of this independent agency have performed their jobs with the utmost integrity and Philadelphia is all the better for their vigilance. In a world of dark-money PACs, the board plays a critical role in elections — but its budget has remained flat. In a Billy Penn op-ed, C70 chief policy officer Pat Christmas urges that city officials give the Board more funding and a bigger toolkit.

Mail-in voting: a typo on Lancaster County ballots


A printing error on some 18,000 Lancaster County mail-in ballots that was discovered only after they had been sent to voters is emblematic of the challenges facing election offices across the state. Such offices are often short-staffed and in many counties led by new personnel still learning the ropes. So it’s critical not only that elections are funded properly but that training and professional development are available for those local officials charged with a wide array of tasks - from voter registration to mail-in voting to campaign finance. Without adequate support and fixing the most cumbersome and problematic aspects of state election law, issues will continue to surface.

Philly ballots in the mail: The Philadelphia City Commissioners finished laying out the ballots city voters will see when they go to the polls or open their mail-ballots—and Billy Penn reports that those ballots will be mailed out soon. If you plan to vote by mail, don’t wait to request a ballot online.

How Philly Works: The Mayor and Key Issues

The mayor plays a key role in a variety of issues that impact residents' quality of life. In many ways, they can make decisions and deploy resources at will. But the mayor's power is also limited -- by state and federal law, labor contracts, and by other elected offices, including City Council. See Seventy's four new infographics on the mayor's role in city finances, schools, policing, land-use and planning.

Interactive Voter Guide is Live

Get ready to vote with C70’s Interactive Voter Guide. Type in your address for information on the statewide judicial elections as well as the local races and ballot questions in your area. Stay tuned for the races and questions in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

City Hall Roll Call

On Our Radar

SCOPA rules on voting-machine access: PA’s top court sanctioned two Fulton County commissioners and their lawyers for allowing Trump-aligned third parties to copy data from its voting machines in their efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. 


Honeymoon isn’t over yet: PA Senate president Joe Pittman called Gov. Josh Shapiro's first budget proposal “reasonable” in a speech this week in Harrisburg. But the Indiana County Republican also said that the finished budget must be “judicious” in its spending.


Independent America: Axios reports on Gallup data showing that 49% of Americans consider themselves “independent” voters, up from 31% in 2004. But PA’s 1 million independent voters can’t participate in the primary elections their taxes pay for. Three bills in the General Assembly would change that.


Council coronations: In its endorsement editorial, The Inquirer bemoans the lack of competitive races for Philly’s 10 District City Council seats. Voters in six districts will see only one Democrat and no Republican on the ballot.


Controller backgrounder: The Inquirer dissects the Philly controller’s duties and profiles the candidates running in the May 16 primary to replace Rebecca Rhynhart, who resigned the post  to run for mayor.

Get Involved

Campaign for Qualified Judges 2023 Election Day Volunteer

Are you looking for a way to make a meaningful impact this Election Day? Join the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Campaign for Qualified Judges to distribute the Bar’s ratings of judicial candidates to voters as they head to the polls. Research shows that getting the Bar Association’s ratings in the hands of voters has a real, tangible impact on the outcome of elections. Volunteers are needed across the city for both the morning (7-10 am) and evening (5-8 pm) shifts. Sign up.

Events

United Voices Candidate Forum

Sat., April 29, 1-4 PM (Open House, 1-2; Mayoral, 2-4)

Community College of Philadelphia 

1700 Spring Garden St.

Seventy joins United Voices for Philadelphia, a diverse coalition of organizations steadfast in support of immigrants and refugees, in hosting an “open house” forum for candidates running for Mayor, City Council, Sheriff, Register of Wills, City Commissioner, Controller and local judgeships. Register.


Why Vote? A Forum on Justice and Opportunity

Thurs., May 4, 4:30-5:30 PM

ECS St Barnabas Mission, 6006 W. Girard Ave.

Two weeks before the municipal primary, Episopal Community Services will host an in-person and livestreamed dialogue to provide important information to voters. What ballot questions will be presented to Philadelphia voters in the spring primary, and why do they matter? Why are judicial elections important? Answers to these questions and more will be covered by C70 interim president and COO Lauren Cristella and Deborah Gross, president and CEO of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. WHYY’s Cherri Gregg is the moderator. Register for in-person or the livestream.


Appellate Courts Candidate Forum

Tues., May 9, 6-7:30 PM

Zoom

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts will host a virtual forum with the candidates for Pennsylvania's appellate courts: the Supreme CourtSuperior Court and Commonwealth Court. All of the candidates have been invited to participate, and virtual attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for the candidates. Co-Sponsors include the Allegheny County Law Library, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Bar Association, the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the C70. Register.


2023 Women in Public Leadership Event

Tuesday, June 6, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM

The Committee of Seventy’s Second Annual Women in Public Leadership event features a timely and important conversation on the vital role the media plays in a democracy. Dr. Kerry Sautner, Chief Learning Officer for the National Constitution Center, will moderate the discussion between Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large and Founder of the 19th*; Lisa Hughes, publisher & CEO of The Philadelphia Inquirer; and Sarah Glover, VP of News & Civic Dialogue at WHYY to discuss their path to leadership, how news organizations can strengthen democracy, and the challenges and opportunities their industries face in light of the heightened partisanship facing our nation. C70 will also honor renowned civic leader, Sharmain Matlock-Turner, CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition, for her tireless work advancing social and economic justice, promoting voter engagement, and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. Sponsorship and ticket information.

Seventy's membership program broadens, diversifies, and expands our community of champions of local democracy. Become a member and receive notification about Event signups, Annual Membership Impact Reports, C70 swag and Invitations to members-only experiences and receptions.

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