Trump Campaign Files Suit Challenging Philadelphia Democrats’ Illegal Refusal to Keep Election Transparent

Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. today filed suit against the Philadelphia County Board of Elections in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County challenging the Democrat election officials’ illegal refusal to allow watchers at its early voting sites and their total disregard for the election integrity principles of transparency and accountability. The Campaign’s lawsuit demands that the Board of Elections allow watchers to do their jobs in Philadelphia’s voting centers, provide watcher certifications, and allow watchers to remain in the public areas of voting centers during all open hours.

“Bad things are happening in Philadelphia. While transparency and accountability are hallmarks of election integrity, the actions of Philadelphia election officials to date have undermined election integrity by shrouding the casting of ballots in secrecy,” the lawsuit states. “The absence of poll watchers at polling places where registration and voting are occurring threatens the integrity of the vote in elections and denies voters the constitutional right to free and fair public elections under the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions.”

Matthew Morgan, Trump 2020 general counsel: “President Trump is taking the fight for a fair, transparent election to Philadelphia’s Democrat election officials, who would apparently prefer to check transparency and accountability at the door. These Democrat officials have repeatedly denied Trump Campaign observers access to several voting locations across the city in violation of state law. The Trump Campaign—and any campaign—has a statutory right to have watchers observe the voting process and ensure voting sites are being run properly and all rules are applied equally. What are these officials hiding? We will not stand by while Democrats skirt the rules and illegally hide the voting process from the public.”

Philadelphia election officials have undermined election integrity by keeping the voting process secret.

• The Philadelphia City Commissioners are responsible for overseeing the conduct of elections in Philadelphia, including the conduct of election personnel at polling locations, at the County Board of Elections, and satellite election offices.
• On September 29, the first seven of Philadelphia’s 15 satellite election offices opened. 
• The start of early voting in Philadelphia was riddled with technical issues.
• The City Commissioners allowed the press access to these sites to observe, ask questions, take pictures and shoot videos—but denied the Campaign the same courtesy.
• On September 29, qualified registered electors of Philadelphia County appeared at the satellite election offices on behalf of the Campaign to observe voters casting their ballots and to observe the operations of these satellite election offices as the business conducted appears to essentially be a public session of the county board of elections. 
• Representatives of the County Board of Elections denied admission to all representatives of the Campaign who sought to observe the operations of the satellite election offices.
• On September 29, in response to this denial, the Campaign sent a letter to the Philadelphia City Commissioners, requesting watcher certificates for duly qualified electors under Pennsylvania law and the right to have watchers in the satellite election offices.
• On September 30, the Philadelphia Law Department responded to the Campaign’s request, refusing entry except for a single tour of the satellite offices “to see how they operate.”
• On September 30, in response to the Law Department’s insufficient reply, the Campaign again requested the opportunity for watchers or access to the public offices.
• On October 1, after no meaningful response from the Law Department, the Campaign filed suit.
• The suit will receive a docket number after the court offices open on October 2.

The Trump Campaign is committed to a transparent election process where every eligible voter can cast a ballot and have that ballot counted once.  

• The campaign is recruiting tens of thousands of volunteer poll watchers to assist with getting out the vote and ensuring that all laws are applied equally.
• Poll watchers provide confidence in an election when they can say that all rules and laws were applied equally.
• Poll watchers assist with increasing voter participation.
• Poll watchers are trained in the proper conduct of a polling location or other election facility.  
• The Trump campaign is recruiting poll watchers across its vast and diverse base of dedicated supporters.  
• Interested individuals can register at DefendYourBallot.com

To view the Trump Campaign’s complaint, click here.

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City of Philadelphia
Office of the Mayor, Office of the City Commissioners
September 29, 2020

New Satellite Election Offices Open Throughout Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA – City Commissioners today opened seven satellite election offices to provide Philadelphia voters with easier access to register to vote and to vote by mail. Ten more satellite offices will open in the coming weeks.

The offices will be open 7 days a week and will remain open through Election Day, November 3, 2020. Hours of operation for the satellite offices are 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

In addition to being able to register, voters may also request a mail-in ballot in-person, receive it, fill it out, and return it to cast their vote, all at the same location. Following comments by officials at today’s press conference, North Philadelphia resident Priscilla Bennett cast the first mail-in vote in Philadelphia for the 2020 General Election.

Voters can utilize any of these seven satellite offices throughout the city:

Region      Location     Address        Zip Code
1. Center City    City Hall, Room 140     1400 JFK Blvd.        19107
2. Far Northeast     George Washington High School     10175 Bustleton Ave.        19116
3. North     The Liacouras Center     1776 N Broad St.        19121
4. Northwest     Roxborough High School     6498 Ridge Ave.        19128
5. Southwest     Tilden Middle School     6601 Elmwood Ave.        19142
6. Upper North     Julia De Burgos Elementary     401 W Lehigh Ave.        19133
7. West     Overbrook Elementary School     2032 N 62nd St.        19151
In addition, these 10 additional offices will open in the coming weeks:

Region      Location     Address        Zip Code
8. Center City     Riverview Place, 1st Floor     520 N Columbus Blvd.        19123
9. Far Northeast     Joseph H Brown School     3600 Stanwood St.        19136
10. Lower Northeast     Harding Middle School     2000 Wakeling St.        19124
11. Lower Northeast     J Hampton Moore School     6900 Summerdale Ave.        19111
12. Northwest     A.B. Day School     6324 Crittenden St.        19138
13. River     Mastbaum High School     3116 Frankford Ave.        19134
14. South     Creative and Performing Arts     901 S Broad St.        19147
15. Upper North     Feltonville Intermediate School     238 E Wyoming Ave.        19120
16. Upper North     Julia Ward Howe School     5800 N 13th St.        19141
17. West     Alain Locke School     4550 Haverford Ave.        19139

Mayor Jim Kenney:
“In the midst of a pandemic, these satellite offices will help ensure that Philadelphians can access the resources they need to vote. This is particularly crucial for those who lack digital access, and who need to avoid longer trips because of health risks. I thank the Commissioners for their work in meeting this need with these offices.”

City Commissioner Lisa Deeley:
“This fall Philadelphians are excited – excited to cast their vote. We at the Commissioners’ Office are pleased to be able to offer Philadelphia voters several different, safe options on how they can exercise their right to be heard. You can vote at the polls on Election Day, November 3rd, you can vote through the mail, and starting today, you can vote in-person at one of our offices around the city, whichever is best for your personal voting plan.”

City Commissioner Omar Sabir:
“It is crucial that Black and Brown voters understand that they have purpose, and their opinion is significant for Government to work at an optimal level. I’m pleased that the satellite offices will make voting more accessible to all Philadelphians.”

Council President Darrell L. Clarke:
“It is essential that every registered voter in Philadelphia knows where they can cast or deliver their mail-in ballot prior to Election Day. These satellite voting centers are open and accessible to every Philadelphian who wants to use them. Our goal is to maximize turnout across every neighborhood in Philadelphia. Be sure to make a plan to vote – it’s critically important that your voice and vote are counted.”

Funding for the satellite offices will come from a $10 million grant from the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL). The City Commissioners are also using this grant to provide additional pay for poll workers and extra cleaning for polling places. With the grant, the department has also purchased over $5 million worth of equipment to send and process mail-in ballots faster and count the votes both quickly and accurately.

Starting on October 6, 2020, voters will also be able to request a replacement for an already requested absentee or mail-in ballot at one of these offices.

More resources at philadelphiavotes.com.