— The Mayor’s Office and the City Election Commission jointly promote election outreach, emphasizing democratic participation and voting convenience
[VT – Philadelphia, October 28, 2025] To encourage voter participation in the upcoming November 4, 2025, election (Election Day), the City of Philadelphia and the City Commissioners today held a joint press conference titled “Accessible, Safe, and Convenient Voting Services.” The event took place at the 9th District Satellite Election Office (6233 N. Broad Street), with multiple city officials and community representatives attending, urging residents to act before the mail-in ballot application deadline (October 28 at 5:00 PM).
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, who was originally scheduled to attend, was unable to appear due to official duties. In a written statement, she said:
“Philadelphia is at the forefront of accessible and innovative election services nationwide. By establishing satellite election offices, expanding language support, and strengthening cooperation with the state government, we are proving that democracy comes alive through every voter’s participation. Whether voting by mail or in person, every resident should make their voice heard.”
The Mayor’s Office was represented by Chief Deputy Mayor Sincere Harris. Also present were 9th District Councilmember Anthony Phillips, At-Large Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad, City Commissioners Chair Omar Sabir, Vice Chair Lisa Deeley, Commissioner Seth Bluestein, and others. From the civic sector, Committee of Seventy Chair and CEO Lauren Cristella and NAACP Philadelphia Branch President Catherine Hicks also spoke.
City Commissioners Chair Omar Sabir urged voters to “apply for mail-in ballots immediately,” emphasizing the convenience of mail voting:
“You can complete, fill out, and submit your application at any satellite election office in under five minutes.” He reminded residents to correctly seal the three-layer envelope and sign it to ensure their ballots are counted.
He humorously added: “Don’t leave your ballot next to your coffee cup! Even if your ballot gets dirty, you can request a replacement at a satellite office.” Sabir emphasized that these improvements demonstrate Philadelphia’s commitment to election security and transparency.
Vice Chair Lisa Deeley reiterated the importance of the “Vote Down the Ballot” initiative:
“The President is not on the ballot, but judges, city offices, and community boards directly affect our lives.” She reminded voters to read both sides of the ballot and participate in all contests, noting that ballots in Philadelphia are available in Chinese to ensure language equality.
9th District Councilmember Anthony Phillips said that the establishment of these satellite offices makes voting “easier and closer to the community than ever before.” He emphasized:
“A ballot is more than just paper; it is a tool for protecting the rule of law, fairness, and social welfare.”
At-Large Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad shared her experience as an immigrant and scientist:
“The day I registered to vote for the first time, I truly felt the power of democracy.” She highlighted a bill she promoted, requiring landlords to provide voter registration information to new tenants, ensuring that all renters can update their voting information promptly. She specifically thanked the City Government and Election Commission for supporting the bill and providing multilingual services.
Committee of Seventy President & CEO Lauren Cristella urged residents to fully utilize the satellite election offices:
“These are not just polling places; they are spaces for rebuilding government trust and civic engagement.” She introduced the website https://seventy.org/, where voters can check all candidate information (covering approximately 9,000 election items across Pennsylvania) and access election guides in nine languages, including Chinese.
NAACP Philadelphia Branch President Catherine Hicks stressed the historical significance of voting rights:
“Our ancestors shed blood for this right. Today, being able to vote in bright and convenient polling locations is a right granted by history, and a responsibility we must cherish.”
After the press conference, multiple city officials and civic representatives participated in media photo sessions and Q&A, inviting attending residents to immediately apply for or submit their mail-in ballots on site.
🗓️ Key Election Dates and Voting Methods
- Mail-in ballot application deadline: Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 5:00 PM
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Ballot submission deadline: Must be received by the Election Commission by 8:00 PM on November 4 (postmark does not count)
Application Methods:
- Online: vote.phila.gov/votebymail
- In person: City Hall Room 142 or ten satellite election offices
Satellite Election Office Hours:
- Weekdays: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Weekends: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Language Services: Chinese, Spanish, and multiple languages available
Voter Guide: vote.phila.gov
Exclusive Interviews
🗳️ Omar Sabir — City Commissioners Chair
In an interview, Chair Sabir emphasized the dual principles of “election security and voting convenience.” He noted that the satellite election offices were established to allow voters to cast their ballots in a safe, bright, and accessible environment. He said:
“I hope every Philadelphian can, like me, complete their civic duty in five minutes.”
He mentioned that nearly 100,000 residents have already applied for mail-in ballots this year, but thousands remain unreturned, urging voters to “submit your ballots immediately.” He specifically reminded residents to use the “yellow secrecy envelope” correctly, sign it, and date it.
Tips:
- Encourage voters to apply and submit mail-in ballots early
- Emphasize election transparency, safety, and convenience
- Satellite offices provide one-stop application, completion, and submission
🗳️ Lisa Deeley — City Commissioners Vice Chair
Vice Chair Deeley stated that the Election Commission’s goal is “to make voting easy for every eligible voter.” She introduced the “Vote Down the Ballot” program, reminding voters not only to focus on the presidential race but also on judges and local/community elections.
She said:
“Today is a beautiful day to vote. Tomorrow at 5 PM is the last chance to apply for mail-in ballots. Act quickly, don’t miss it.”
She also emphasized Philadelphia’s language accessibility policy:
“Our ballots are available in Chinese to ensure all voters can understand and exercise their voting rights.”
Tips:
- Emphasize the “Vote Down the Ballot” concept and importance of all election levels
- Remind voters of the application deadline and encourage action
- Confirm that Chinese ballots and language support are fully available
🏛️ At-Large Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad — Democracy Begins in Every Community
Dr. Nina Ahmad highlighted her deep collaboration with ChineseinUS. She was a key guest at ChineseinUS’s first-ever Candidates Forum, the first public candidate forum in the U.S. conducted in Chinese, involving Pennsylvania political and judicial candidates and civic groups, marking a milestone in promoting Asian-American political participation.
After the event, Dr. Ahmad was successfully elected as a City Council member. She specifically thanked ChineseinUS:
“ChineseinUS built a bridge for communication between candidates and voters in Chinese, removing language barriers to democratic participation. This reflects Philadelphia’s spirit of inclusion and demonstrates the Asian-American community’s strength in public affairs.”
She introduced the bill she promoted requiring landlords to provide voter registration or verification information to tenants when they move in. This bill is enforced by the City L&I department and offered in multiple languages to serve diverse communities.
“The meaning of democracy lies in participation. Every voter’s voice contributes to a more equitable and inclusive city.” Drawing on her experience as an immigrant, she emphasized the importance of democratic participation and highlighted that Philadelphia is one of the few U.S. cities that proactively strengthens voter registration mechanisms.
She stressed:
“Democracy only works when everyone participates. Each voter’s involvement continues the legacy of equality and inclusion.”
Tips:
- Actively promote voter registration reforms
- Focus on voting convenience for immigrants and minorities
- Emphasize voting as civic responsibility and self-expression
🗳️ Lauren Cristella — Committee of Seventy Chair & CEO: Century-Old Institution Partners with ChineseinUS for Election Education
Lauren Cristella is Chair and CEO of Philadelphia’s Committee of Seventy, the city’s oldest and most well-known civic oversight and election education organization, founded in 1904. For over 120 years, it has pursued the mission of “protecting election integrity, promoting civic education, and enhancing government accountability.”
This year, ChineseinUS partnered with Committee of Seventy for the first time to promote candidate forums and voter education activities. Cristella said:
“We are honored to collaborate with ChineseinUS to help more members of the Asian-American community access election information and participate actively. Multilingual democracy is not only a symbol of inclusion but also part of Philadelphia’s spirit.”
She added:
“These satellite election offices are not just polling places; they are spaces to rebuild civic trust. We hope every voter can cast an informed ballot. Philadelphia’s satellite election offices are a national innovation model and should be seen as spaces for civic engagement and government trust restoration.”
She introduced the organization’s website https://seventy.org/, which provides voter guides in nine languages including Chinese, covering over 9,000 election items across Pennsylvania.
She said:
“We hope every voter can cast an informed vote and encourage others to do the same. Democracy begins with understanding.”
Tips:
- Promote transparency and civic education
- Website provides multilingual voter information and candidate materials
- Emphasize election education and government trust building
As the mail-in ballot application deadline approaches, the Mayor’s Office, City Commissioners, and civic organizations are working together to encourage voter participation. From language services to election convenience and voter education, Philadelphia is demonstrating a modern election system where “everyone can vote, everywhere can vote, and vote with confidence.”
As Vice Chair Lisa Deeley said: “Today is a beautiful day to vote.”
And as Chair Omar Sabir added: “Just five minutes can make democracy stronger.”
