By Jack Tomczuk<\/p>\n
Ahead of the May 19 primary, Philadelphia election officials are hosting an educational series to give residents the opportunity to learn more about the voting process.<\/p>\n
The \u201cElection Academy,\u201d a joint venture between the City Commissioners<\/a> and Committee of Seventy<\/a> (C70), will begin March 21, with a tour of the city\u2019s ballot warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people understand how the system works, they are far more likely to trust it,\u201d said Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of C70, a nonpartisan civic organization.<\/p>\n The sessions come as President Donald Trump has spoken about his desire to \u201cnationalize\u201d elections<\/a> in select jurisdictions before the mid-terms. In an interview last month, he mentioned Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta as potential targets<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Philadelphia was also among the cities<\/a> at the heart of Trump\u2019s unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged in favor of Joe Biden. The U.S. Constitution grants state legislatures the authority to manage elections.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of the nonsense that people are talking about our elections,\u201d Omar Sabir, chair of the City Commissioners, said at a news conference last week. \u201cWe have neighbors that are doing this. These are your family and friends who are administering these elections.\u201d<\/p>\n Seth Bluestein, the lone GOP representative on the three-member City Commissioners, who oversee Philadelphia elections, said he hopes the Election Academy initiative can turn participants into ambassadors in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no better way to understand elections than to get hands-on,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want Philadelphians to understand how elections work, who runs them and how they can participate with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n Poll workers, party committee members, ward leaders and the general public are invited to the sessions. The program is free; however, space is limited, so those interested must register in advance at seventy.org<\/a> or by calling 215-557-3600.<\/p>\n The first class will be held Saturday, March 21, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the City Commissioners warehouse, 11311 Roosevelt Blvd. Participants will learn about how election materials are prepared, stored and secured, among other things.\u00a0<\/p>\n Future events focusing on mail-in voting and the role of satellite election offices are scheduled for March 23 at 5610 Lancaster Ave., Unit 400; March 24 at 6233 N. Broad St.; March 26 at 2739 N. 5th St.; March 30 at 1619-81 Grant Ave., Suite 15 and 16; and March 31 at 1835 S. Broad St. Each of those sessions will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Meetings about voter registration will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 7 and April 9 at 520 N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard.<\/p>\n Election officials are also hoping the initiative serves as a tool for recruiting more poll workers.<\/p>\n The City Commissioners, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, set out to sign up 250 Election Day workers in February. More than 500 ultimately registered for the May primary, including 150 high school students, Sabir said.<\/p>\n Any registered voter can serve as a poll worker, and there is a program for Philadelphia students who are at least 17 years old. Participants are paid for training and their Election Day shift.<\/p>\n