Bob Lee Responds to Joey DeFelice's Daily News Letter

Why Philadelphians Vote On Cutting Edge
by Bob Lee
Voter Registration Administrator
Philadelphia County

The Daily News published an opinion letter by a Joseph J. DeFelice titled Voting for a Better City., charging "Elections in this city are very old-fashioned."
Every Republican and Democrat Ward Leader, Committee Person, Polling Place Official, and our voters and media know different!

They have experienced the improvements made in the election systems in Philadelphia during the past ten years.

In 1995, the City Commissioners successfully implemented the Federal mandates of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and has utilized every voter removal program, and every address update program required and permitted by Federal and State law. The City Commissioners administration of voter registration and implementation of the Federal "fail-safe" voting procedures has been affirmed by the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals in February 2001 in Welker v. Clarke.

In 1997, Philadelphia implemented an Imaging System which enabled production of Pollbooks listing eligible voter records and digitized signatures for use at the polls. This eliminated the old, heavy metal binders holding each voters original paper record allowing they remain secure at our central office and substantially eased the work of our pollworkers. In May 2002, the Commission replaced its old mechanical lever voting machines with a proven electronic voting system and conducted an extensive education program on the new machines for Ward Leaders, Committeepersons, Poll Officials and voters throughout the City. It has substantially decreased the reporting time of results and saved tens of thousands of dollars while eliminating errors in reading, manually writing and tabulating vote totals from the old lever machines.

In 2003, well before the effective date for implementing the Provisional Voting requirements of the Help America Vote Act, the City Commissioners procured a central count, optical scan voting system for use in designing, printing, scanning, and counting paper Absentee, Alternative and Provisional Ballots. This ensures that problems highlighted in Florida 2000 in detecting and resolving voter intent issues on manual or opt/scan paper ballots are resolved in accordance with "What Constitutes A Vote Standards", issued by the Commonwealth, at a public hearing, so that each and every vote can be properly counted, recorded and reported.

In 2004, the Commission successfully implemented the voter ID and provisional voting requirements of the Help America Vote Act. Prior to the Nov. 2004 Election, the Commission conducted the most extensive voter education program in the Commonwealth.

During Philadelphia's most active and volatile election in more than 20 years, the Commission personnel processed more than 250,000 registration applications, provided access for review of approximately 80,000 voters records and efficiently assisted Commonwealth Court in Hearings on the Nader petition challenge, prepared more than 3,430 machines, processed absentees, conducted a relatively problem free election in which more than 672,000 Philadelphians voted; and processed more than 12,000 voted Provisional Ballots.

In May 2005, the Commission obtained approval for approximately $20 million in Federal Help America Vote funds, the bulk of which must be used to reimburse the City for replacing its lever machines and to upgrade its electronic machines for compliance with accessibility standards.
Prior to January 1, 2006, the City Commissioners will upgrade its electronic voting system and voting machines to provide the accessibility for visually impaired voters to independently cast their ballot.

Mr. DeFelice also writes, "It's nearly impossible to find a polling place that meets even early 20th century standards, such as running water, handicap accessibility and the right not to vote in bars and Democratic headquarters."

He should realize Philadelphia is an older, major urban city and obtaining fully accessible facilities, with designated parking for the disabled, within, or adjacent to every election district is almost impossible. The City has 316 fully accessible polls and another 675 where the building is accessible. The City has identified another 175 where portable ramps may provide accessibility. We are researching properties in the remaining 500 voting Divisions, and adjacent Divisions to locate additional accessible locations.

Complaints about Philadelphia polling places from some in Pennsylvania are often distorted and selective in nature. On May 16, 2005, the day before the May Primary, Republican State Committee (PAGOP) issued a Press Release on Philadelphia polling places also included the following: "Perhaps most astonishingly, residents of the 18th Division of the Twenty-Ninth Ward will be voting in a Vacant Funeral Home. It has long been rumored that the dead vote in Philadelphia, but this is apparently the first time they've ever been given their own polling place"

Although it wasn't included in Mr. DeFelice's letter, he is a Republican Committeeperson in the 64th Ward, 11th Division. The registrants in this Division vote in a "working" Funeral Parlor - Fluehr's, at 3301 Cottman Ave. It puzzles me how PAGOP could be so concerned about using a vacant Funeral Home in the 29th Ward, yet totally fail to mention the use of an "active" Funeral Home in the 64th Ward.

The PAGOP and Mr. DeFelice's letter also complain of a polling place in a Senator's Office. Three weeks before the Nov 2004 Election, PAGOP had local candidates file a late request to move that polling place to a public school located more than four voting Divisions away.
The new accessible John Perzel Community Center is being constructed behind the inaccessible Mayfair School which currently serves as the polling place for four Divisions of the 55th Ward and one Division of the 64th Ward.

Unfortunately, if we apply the same logic and argument from PAGOP and Mr. DeFelice against the use of one Sen. Fumo's accessible office then it would appear PAGOP and Mr. DeFelice would also urge us not to use this new facility for the five Divisions as it too would have the name of a current elected official (and possible future candidate) permanently installed over the door.

The same PAGOP Press Release goes on "Pennsylvania law states that voting cannot take place in a location used for the sale or serving of alcohol" and, like Mr. DeFelice, condemns the use of a few bars in Philadelphia. Yet the Release fails to condemn polling places in Pennsylvania's other 66 Counties that are located in VFW's or other establishments that have a license for "the sale or serving of alcohol." Like Philadelphia, these locations are more than likely used as a last resort to provide voters a convenient polling place within, or adjacent to their voting district.
Philadelphians are well aware that parking can be difficult and many do not drive. A large percentage of Philadelphians walk to their polling place. It is vital that voting districts be properly sized and that polling places be located within the Division, and no further than the adjacent Division, to avoid barriers to voting such as long lines, and long walking distances. The Commission will continue its efforts to locate accessible buildings within each Division and will select locations after consideration of all factors for the convenience of all electors, including seniors and disabled voters.

In his letter Mr. DeFelice also writes, "It is nearly impossible to receive all the poll watchers certificates for which you applied." He was issued a Republican certificate for candidate Hillel Levinson for the May 17, 2005 Primary Election. This certificate was available for pickup on April 28, 2005, 18 days before the election. A review of the Watcher Request Form submitted for the 64th Ward watchers, including Mr. DeFelice's, clearly has numerous errors or entries contrary to the limitation imposed by law.

The form submitted for the 64th Ward included the following number of individuals in the following Divisions: four in the 2nd Div., six in the 4th Div., three in the 3rd Div., five in the 10th Div, four in the 11th Div, five in the 12th Div, three in the 13th Div, three in the 15th Div, four in the 17th Div, six in the 18th Div, and one individual in the 64th Ward, 19th Division which does not even exist.

Since State Law limits Watchers to two per candidate per Division, Commission personnel could have simply rejected the requests over the limit. However, the extra individuals in each Division were issued Certificates under the names of other cross-filed judicial candidates. Forms completed properly in accordance with the limits imposed by State Law, increase efficiency in processing and eliminate confusion and false perceptions.

If Mr. DeFelice is referring to the 2003 General Election when campaign operatives, notably the Katz campaign, requested hundreds of certificates the day before Election Day, then he should be aware that it is necessary for our personnel to leave the office by 8 or 9 p.m. so they can return before 6 a.m. the next morning, Election Day. These same late submissions from numerous campaigns and operatives occurred again during the 2004 November Election.
Mr. DeFelice also suggests a temporary shutdown of the Commissioner’s office to load all pertinent data onto a database. First, the workload does not permit temporarily shutting down the office. Additionally, it would be foolhardy and a total waste of city taxpayer funds for the Commission to implement any new database.

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Commission will be converting its data and daily operations to the Help America Vote Act mandated and funded Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors. Unfortunately in 2002 the Ridge/Schweiker Administration, selected a system that was expensive, inferior and non-compliant with Federal and State Voter Registration and Election law when it was placed in operation. The law requiring the system exempted the procurement from the normal procurement and regulatory processes. It has taken more than three years to revise and upgrade the system. As recently as March 2005, the SURE system could not even meet the contractual requirement of a three second response time for a single query.

Finally, Mr. DeFelice writes, "Now is the time to establish a computer program that will expedite the processing of watcher certificates, while at the same time turning a blind eye to partisan politics." He should be aware that this expensive and inferior Statewide SURE system lacks many modules, applications, and reports needed in administering elections and it does not include a computer module for processing and maintaining data for printing Watchers Certificates.

The City Commissioners and their personnel will continue their efforts at improving the electoral process in Philadelphia and we thank all Ward Leaders, Committeepersons, and Polling Place Officials for their assistance in implementing these improvements.