Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be nearly 80% fewer polling places in Philadelphia during the 2020 primary election on June 2. In recent months, state and local officials encouraged voters to apply for mail-in ballots to avoid potential exposure to coronavirus at their polling places. The deadline for mail-in ballots was May 26.
Due to the unprecedented number of mail-in ballot applications, the process of voters receiving and mailing their ballots has been delayed. Ballots must be delivered (postmarks don’t count) to the Philadelphia office by the state’s deadline of 8 p.m. on Election Day.
To accommodate voters who are worried the elections office won’t receive their ballots in time, Philadelphia election officials, City Council, the Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan civic leadership organization, and others have set up drop-off locations throughout the city.
If you mailed your ballot and you’re worried it won’t be delivered by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, you can go to your polling place on Election Day and ask for a provisional ballot. Some polling places have changed. You can find your polling place using this map.
Here are the options for dropping off your mail-in ballot:
24/7 Drop-Off Boxes
The Philadelphia City Commissioners has their own blue postal drop-off boxes that are available from now until 8 p.m. on Election Day:
City Hall
South Broad entrance
Philadelphia City Commissioner’s Office
520 N Columbus Blvd (19123)
Staffed Drop-Off Sites
The Philadelphia City Commissioners in partnership with the Committee of Seventy has staffed drop-off sites, where voters can drop off their ballots on certain days and times between now and Election Day. Voters can only drop off their own ballots.
Sunday, May 31
Rising Sun Plaza Shopping Center
Adams Ave and Rising Sun Ave. (19120)
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
25th District PAL
3199 D St. (19134)
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fishtown Crossing Shopping Center
2401 Aramingo Ave. (19125)
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Shawmont Elementary School
535 Shawmont Ave. (19128)
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Central High School
1700 W Olney Ave. (19141)
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tanner Duckrey Public School
1501 W Diamond St. (19121)
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Election Day Drop-Offs
The Philadelphia City Commissioners and City Council are offering staffed drop-off sites in each of the City Council districts at the following locations from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can only drop off their own ballots.
1st Council District
Philadelphia City Commissioner’s Office
520 N. Columbus Blvd. (19123)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
2nd Council District
Tilden Middle School
6601 Elmwood Ave. (19142)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
3rd Council District
Lucien Blackwell Library
52nd and Sansom Streets (19139)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
4th Council District
Hillside Recreation Center
203 Fountain St. (19128)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
5th Council District
Council President’s District Office
2815 Ridge Ave., Suite B (19121)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
6th Council District
Councilmember Bobby Henon’s District Office
6730 Torresdale Ave. (19135)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
7th Council District
Harrowgate PAL Center
851 E. Tioga Street (19134)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
8th Council District
Councilmember Cindy Bass’ District Office
4439 S. Germantown Ave. (19144)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
9th Council District
West Oak Lane Library
2000 Washington Lane (19138)
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
10th Council District
Councilmember Brian O’Neill’s District Office
Bustleton Ave. and Bowler Street (19115)
Editor: Jillian Bauer-Reese / Designer Jillian Bauer-Reese / TranslatorZari Tarazona
Kensington Voice is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on economic mobility. Read more at brokeinphilly.org or follow on Twitter at @BrokeInPhilly.
