WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 2
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=4Do91PF0DB4
Video-2: youtube.com/watch?v=_v9TFI-dip0

Part: 1

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:02:30.319
--------- Good afternoon. I call to order the meeting of the Philadelphia City Commissioners Return Board for Monday, June 8th, 2026. This meeting is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. Philadelphia

2
00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:45.280
City Commissioners are a three member bipartisan board of elected officials in charge of elections and voter registrations for the city of Philadelphia. Each commissioner is elected to serve a four-year term that coincides with the municipal election

3
00:02:45.280 --> 00:03:00.800
cycle for mayor and city council. The commissioner set and enforce departmental policies to administer voter registration and conduct elections in accordance with federal and state voter registration and election laws. The city commissioners were created by

4
00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:17.599
the Pennsylvania assembly in 1711, but they focused on taxation and held various regulatory powers throughout the centuries. The commissioner started maintaining voter list in 1799 and took a more election related responsibility but didn't emerge in its current form

5
00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:32.720
until the adoption of Philadelphia's homework charter in 1951. We will start off with public comments before beginning their comments. Commenters shall state where they live or if they are not a resident of Philadelphia that they are Philadelphia

6
00:03:32.720 --> 00:03:48.159
taxpayer. Public comment is not an opportunity for dialogue or Q&A. It is public comment, a chance for you to tell us what you think. Each speaker will have two minutes to speak. However, I may extend the time at my discretion. Public comment must concern matters on

7
00:03:48.159 --> 00:04:04.959
today's meeting agenda. Finally, it is my responsibility to preserve the order and decorum of the meetings. As such, profane, slanderous, discriminatory, personal attacks will not be tolerated. If you wish to make a public objection to a perceived Sunshine Act violation,

8
00:04:04.959 --> 00:04:31.520
please raise your hand and I will recognize you. Outburst will not be tolerated. Anyone wishing to offer public comment, please step forward. >> Yeah. Come on. >> Yes. Um, good afternoon and thank you for

9
00:04:31.520 --> 00:04:48.639
having me been here to uh testifying. My name is W Chan. I'm a civic engagement director with Asian-Americans United. Also, I'm a um committee person of South Philadelphia. Um I'm here today to highlight the fundamental issue that continue to

10
00:04:48.639 --> 00:05:06.240
undermine the voting right of the Asian-American community in Philadelphia. the persistent of the fail to providing meaningful language access. But we are here today to um we're here today because we urgent there urged this

11
00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:22.639
to be um concrete measures to taking ahead of the general election. Since 2021, the city has been um legal requests to provide effective language access to Chinese speaking voters. Yet

12
00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:37.840
every election cycle we continue to document um poll location with no interpreter at all or interpreter who did not speaking the dialogue with the right language uh voter actually use

13
00:05:37.840 --> 00:05:52.960
even the interpreter are present the voter often could not have no way to knowing because there's no sign no visibility and no proactive uh outreach as one of the pole worker

14
00:05:52.960 --> 00:06:10.400
tell us we don't we don't have the any non-English uh voter in our world the the statement that is both incorrect and deeply disenouraged limited English provision voter this election is a key problem was citywide shortage of the

15
00:06:10.400 --> 00:06:25.280
translation material Chinese body uh Chinese simple budget was missing across the city uh with only one copy per division at the at the many A few translation material was uh exist

16
00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:42.160
where the place behind polling workers paper or deep inside of a building there uh where the voter could not find them something as a a simple as a place a voting here sign at the street level or

17
00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:57.199
post additional simple ballot at the enter making meaningful difference. uh LP voter also recognized the pin symbol B paper as as so more of the each you

18
00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:12.639
know solve of the problem. Language barrier prevents a voter from understanding their B navigating polling location and also exercising their right and their democracy. When the language acts fail, democracy fail, our our

19
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:29.360
community was the deep uh was uh respected. We are we are asking city commission office to taking this seriously. Ensure the interpreter present and in the right polling location visible and grant the guarantee

20
00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:46.000
the translation material are fully stock in accessible as a train and train pole worker as they understand the both law and they need uh the needs of the community they served the right to votion never depend on their language

21
00:07:46.000 --> 00:08:06.639
they speaking or the polling worker you'll encounter. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Is there anybody else? >> I'd like to thank you all for coming up. I really do. >> Yeah. Thanks for having us. >> We don't get that many visitors. >> I know. Exploring new places in the

22
00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:23.120
Northeast. Um, so thank you for the chance to speak. My name is Vivian Chang. I live in the Chinatown North neighborhood and I'm the executive director of Asian-Americans United. Um, so continuing on what we testimony shared, we want to focus on basically barriers that are created for limited

23
00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:39.279
English proficient voters, especially Asian-American voters that we work with. Um, there are real training gaps and especially kind of dangerous attitudes among poll workers that create these barriers. Um, I've been part of the poll monitoring team for several election cycles and unfortunately seen these

24
00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:56.720
persist. Um so what we've documented for example is that some pole workers dismiss the need for interpreters. So when we ask them about you know what they what languages or what uh language materials they provide or whether they think that this is something that they need we've had poll workers who say just

25
00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:11.360
like we said they don't have any non-English speakers in their ward and that's physically impossible. Um, but that kind of perspective can create these barriers where non-English-speaking or limiting voters don't feel comfortable voting at those

26
00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:26.959
polls or reaching out. Um, also on Penn's campus that we always visit a few sites and there's a lot of international students or just folks who might be working there and the attitude there is like well everyone has to pass this English exam so they don't need this

27
00:09:26.959 --> 00:09:43.360
help but we're supposed to be a welcoming city. So, uh, we have to be able to kind of address this through a lot of training gaps because these these are assumptions and, you know, for some folks maybe they've been working this for a long time and their neighborhood changes. They don't realize like, hey, I have more immigrants or more new

28
00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:59.200
citizens in my neighborhood. Um, and as these assumptions keep persisting, that discourages voters from seeking help. Um, this is also misinformation and is now, you know, already adding to the escalations from impacts from ICE and myths about non-citizens voting. So, we

29
00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:14.560
want folks who are naturalized citizens to feel like they have the right and they have the power to be at the polls as well. So, these training gaps have serious consequences. Um, in addition to language access, one of our youth was a first-time voter. She just turned 18, but she was denied a ballot at first

30
00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:31.200
because a pole worker told her that her student ID did not count as a photo ID. um when she produced a second ID, she was still issued a wrong ballot because the poll the electronic book did not show her party affiliation even though she had registered properly. So instead of resolving that issue, the poll worker

31
00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:47.360
said, "We'll fix it for November. Just vote the nonpartisan ballot today." Um and they accused the voter of trying to vote twice when she tried to fix the problem after calling us. So these are not isolated incidents. And if that 18-year-old kid had not known to call

32
00:10:47.360 --> 00:11:03.519
AAOU, she would have just lost the right that day on the very first time voting. Um, so these are often very systemic failures in the training. So pole workers, unfortunately, many don't know what materials are in their boxes there. They don't know how interpreters get assigned or or why they might or might

33
00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:18.480
not be there today. And they often don't necessarily use the language hotline. Um, and so this reflects like a lot of times it's like yes folks think okay I've done this for years and years or maybe the training is kind of like a thing you just go to and you're not really listening to but these are really

34
00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:35.120
really important issues especially as we want to stay a welcoming city. Um, other things we've seen uh in things that the comprehensive training needs to cover is like what materials are provided um how to use it. I think again a lot of folks might be familiar with some of it but they're really not necessarily going

35
00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:51.200
through at that level of detail. Um training should cover how interpreters should be working where they should be sitting visible to the voters. Uh I think sometimes there's not enough interaction between poll workers and interpreters. Um they should also cover in training like how do you identify and

36
00:11:51.200 --> 00:12:06.480
assist limited English proficient voters. Sometimes folks leave it up to the interpreter or if they don't have any again they just assume well there's no leap voters at my location. Um, training should also cover how to resolve ID and ballot issues correctly and just, you know, basically like how

37
00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:22.959
do we treat voters with respect? How do we be more opening um and welcoming and not just kind of like receive whoever comes in here whether they come or not? Um, so yeah, we were we just really appreciate you all taking the time to listen. We also appreciate Commissioner uh Bluestein coming out and just like visiting polls with us because I think

38
00:12:22.959 --> 00:12:39.600
even I was like, "Oh yeah, I'm sure it works this way or that." But seeing it every day on, you know, election day, it like really helps kind of understand, okay, what does it look like for a voter, especially a new voter or especially someone who is interacting with our civic systems on election day,

39
00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:56.000
and they're like, oh, I don't know how to interact with this person. I may not be able to speak this confidently enough. Um, so yeah, we just appreciate you all taking the time to listen today. Um, and definitely encourage, you know, to reach out and definitely want to be in touch. Thank you.

40
00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:16.320
>> Sure. >> Anybody else? >> Hello, commissioners. Uh, thank you very much for having me. My name is Patrick Stegiller. I am not a taxpaying resident of Philadelphia, not because I don't pay taxes, but because I'm not a resident.

41
00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:32.800
Um, I am a voting rights attorney with the Asian-American Legal Defense Fund. uh and I have been working in Philadelphia for the past five years uh to expand language access and help the city uh reach the goal of compliance with all state and federal voting rights

42
00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:49.839
acts and uh to follow up on the testimony from my friends at AAOU. I would like to read into the record five clear recommendations that ALDEF can give to the city to ensure compliance with its federal obligations under section 203 and the Help America Votes Act. This is part of a observation

43
00:13:49.839 --> 00:14:07.120
letter that we recently just filed with your offices and put into the record, but I'd like to read these five recommendations in as well. First, improve poll site signage and visibility. Ensure all polling sites have multiple visible vote here signs with ward division listings and notices

44
00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:23.519
indicating the availability of interpreters and sample ballots in all relevant covered languages, which in Philadelphia would be Chinese and Spanish. Second, ensure adequate translated materials, which means providing sufficient quantities of translated sample ballots and ensure

45
00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:39.199
that they are prominently displayed and accessible to voters. Third, strengthen interpreter programs, increase interpreter coverage, ensure proper placement at near entrances so that voters are able to actually access the interpretive services available to them,

46
00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:54.320
and require proactive engagement with voters. Fourth, enhance pole worker training. Provide updated, comprehensive training on language access requirements, interpreter coordination, and voter assistance protocols. And finally,

47
00:14:54.320 --> 00:15:10.639
fifth, expand pre-election outreach, distribute multilingual materials in community spaces, and notify voters about the availability of interpreters and language assistance services in advance of upcoming elections. Thank you all again for your time. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring the people

48
00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:34.079
of Philadelphia are able to vote in accordance with their state and federal rights and uh have a great rest of your meeting. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Uh my name is Al Sharif Nasif. have been um a

49
00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:49.199
taxpayer based in West Philadelphia for much of the last decade and I'm here on behalf of the organization All Voting is Local as well as the Coalition Citizens for Language Access. Uh both are dedicated to protecting the franchise and ensuring the right to vote for all Philadelphiaians. Uh first, I do want to

50
00:15:49.199 --> 00:16:04.639
thank uh really all of you for the uh the challenging and sometimes thankless work of the commission. uh when you know over a dozen community led organizations asked for increased language accessibility in voting, the commission acted uh and you passed the language accessibility motion expansion

51
00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:22.320
unanimously by bipartisan effort. You tripled the languages at our of our election materials and improved access to the ballot for at least 47,000 uh and maybe up to 87,000 Philadelphia citizens of voting age who are limited in English proficiency. Uh and this is according to

52
00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:39.360
the US Census Bureau. and you all created the language access advisory committee to keep this work moving forward so that Philadelphia can set the standard for best practice in the birthplace of American democracy and we're all here today because we believe in that promise and we stand ready to

53
00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:55.839
build upon that promise that you already taken steps toward um and so I just want to make a few asks first let's reconvene the advisory committee the members hold deep expertise across our language communities and the city needs needs

54
00:16:55.839 --> 00:17:10.880
them back at the table. Second, let's bring the full capacity of all three offices um into dialogue with that committee. This work shouldn't rest on just one office. I think it's strongest when when the labor is shared. Let's all work together to implement the the

55
00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:26.400
commission's policy. And third, uh, let's just consider the steps necessary for Philadelphia to fully comply with federal voting rights law, especially section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires language, uh, Chinese language accessibility. Members of the advisory board and supporting

56
00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:41.919
organizations, we stand uh, ready to help address any barriers that might affect Chinese Philadelphia voters. And, you know, it's our strong preference to work constructively and collaboratively to ensure compliance and to troubleshoot. Um and you know given the

57
00:17:41.919 --> 00:18:03.280
history of the positive steps of the commission um there's no doubt that we'll have uh you know we have full confidence that we'll see this momentum move forward and and we look forward to collaborating with you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate anybody else public comment. Thank you for your uh comments everyone

58
00:18:03.280 --> 00:18:19.360
and u we definitely look forward to putting our ruling up our sleeves and doing work. We don't go fishing after elections. You know, in this department, we work hard. So, let's work together. Let's make accessible for everyone. Uh, Secretary Bluestein, were there any

59
00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:35.520
email public comments? >> Thank you, Chairman. Uh, all comments that were emailed were shared with the commissioners and deputies and have been provided to each commissioner at the beginning of the meeting. They're also available at the public comment table. We received one comment for this week's meeting from Leah Wong of Aldef uh

60
00:18:35.520 --> 00:18:52.960
related to language accessibility observations on election day. Um I've reviewed the comment and asked that it be moved into the record. >> I've also reviewed them. >> I have also reviewed them and agree that they should be moved into the record.

61
00:18:58.960 --> 00:20:59.520
We now proceed to new business. The board will now sign the certification for the May 19th, 2026 primary elections. I know. I'm just Does anybody Thank you. Thank you. We will now move to any additional

62
00:20:59.520 --> 00:21:16.400
comments by commissioners. Vice Chair Diller, do you have any other business to be raised at this meeting? >> I have none. Thank you. >> Secretary Bluestein, do you have any other business to be raised this meeting? >> I have none. Thank you. >> I would like to thank all of the uh

63
00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:33.440
staff working tirelessly and another successful election. uh the election results uh were we were at I think believe we're at 99% uh before midnight. So kudos for the changes that we're making and again staff definitely

64
00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:50.240
want you to feel free to experience you know new things when it comes to our elections. When I first uh was elected, one of the things what older staffers were always telling me was that the way we've been doing things is because we've

65
00:21:50.240 --> 00:22:07.360
always been doing it this way. It wasn't no clear reason. So again, keep coming up with new innovative ideas for us to give the citizens of Philadelphia the elections that they deserve. Okay. Thank you, commissioners, as always, my

66
00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:22.880
colleagues. I really appreciate y'all. You know, I know it's not easy being at the top. You know, you talk about things like uh death threats and scrutiny. You know, it's very hard to be a commissioner in the city of Philadelphia. So, Vice Chair Lisa

67
00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:39.360
Dailyy, I thank you for your service. Secretary Bluestein, I appreciate you for your service as well. A motion to adjourn this meeting of the return board. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Secretary Bluestein, please call the role. Vice Chair Dy >> I

68
00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:45.120
>> I vote I chairman Seabir I meeting is a journ

Part: 2

1
00:02:15.200 --> 00:02:30.319
Good afternoon. I call to order the meeting of the Philadelphia City Commissioners Return Board for Monday, June 8th, 2026. This meeting is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. Philadelphia

2
00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:45.280
City Commissioners are a three member bipartisan board of elected officials in charge of elections and voter registrations for the city of Philadelphia. Each commissioner is elected to serve a four-year term that coincides with the municipal election

3
00:02:45.280 --> 00:03:00.800
cycle for mayor and city council. The commissioner set and enforce departmental policies to administer voter registration and conduct elections in accordance with federal and state voter registration and election laws. The city commissioners were created by

4
00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:17.599
the Pennsylvania assembly in 1711, but they focused on taxation and held various regulatory powers throughout the centuries. The commissioner started maintaining voter list in 1799 and took a more election related responsibility but didn't emerge in its current form

5
00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:32.720
until the adoption of Philadelphia's homework charter in 1951. We will start off with public comments before beginning their comments. Commenters shall state where they live or if they are not a resident of Philadelphia that they are Philadelphia

6
00:03:32.720 --> 00:03:48.159
taxpayer. Public comment is not an opportunity for dialogue or Q&A. It is public comment, a chance for you to tell us what you think. Each speaker will have two minutes to speak. However, I may extend the time at my discretion. Public comment must concern matters on

7
00:03:48.159 --> 00:04:04.959
today's meeting agenda. Finally, it is my responsibility to preserve the order and decorum of the meetings. As such, profane, slanderous, discriminatory, personal attacks will not be tolerated. If you wish to make a public objection to a perceived Sunshine Act violation,

8
00:04:04.959 --> 00:04:31.520
please raise your hand and I will recognize you. Outburst will not be tolerated. Anyone wishing to offer public comment, please step forward. >> Yeah. Come on. >> Yes. Um, good afternoon and thank you for

9
00:04:31.520 --> 00:04:48.639
having me been here to uh testifying. My name is W Chan. I'm a civic engagement director with Asian-Americans United. Also, I'm a um committee person of South Philadelphia. Um I'm here today to highlight the fundamental issue that continue to

10
00:04:48.639 --> 00:05:06.240
undermine the voting right of the Asian-American community in Philadelphia. the persistent of the fail to providing meaningful language access. But we are here today to um we're here today because we urgent there urged this

11
00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:22.639
to be um concrete measures to taking ahead of the general election. Since 2021, the city has been um legal requests to provide effective language access to Chinese speaking voters. Yet

12
00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:37.840
every election cycle we continue to document um poll location with no interpreter at all or interpreter who did not speaking the dialogue with the right language uh voter actually use

13
00:05:37.840 --> 00:05:52.960
even the interpreter are present the voter often could not have no way to knowing because there's no sign no visibility and no proactive uh outreach as one of the pole worker

14
00:05:52.960 --> 00:06:10.400
tell us we don't we don't have the any non-English uh voter in our world the the statement that is both incorrect and deeply disenouraged limited English provision voter this election is a key problem was citywide shortage of the

15
00:06:10.400 --> 00:06:25.280
translation material Chinese body uh Chinese simple budget was missing across the city uh with only one copy per division at the at the many A few translation material was uh exist

16
00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:42.160
where the place behind polling workers paper or deep inside of a building there uh where the voter could not find them something as a a simple as a place a voting here sign at the street level or

17
00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:57.199
post additional simple ballot at the enter making meaningful difference. uh LP voter also recognized the pin symbol B paper as as so more of the each you

18
00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:12.639
know solve of the problem. Language barrier prevents a voter from understanding their B navigating polling location and also exercising their right and their democracy. When the language acts fail, democracy fail, our our

19
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:29.360
community was the deep uh was uh respected. We are we are asking city commission office to taking this seriously. Ensure the interpreter present and in the right polling location visible and grant the guarantee

20
00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:46.000
the translation material are fully stock in accessible as a train and train pole worker as they understand the both law and they need uh the needs of the community they served the right to votion never depend on their language

21
00:07:46.000 --> 00:08:06.639
they speaking or the polling worker you'll encounter. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Is there anybody else? >> I'd like to thank you all for coming up. I really do. >> Yeah. Thanks for having us. >> We don't get that many visitors. >> I know. Exploring new places in the

22
00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:23.120
Northeast. Um, so thank you for the chance to speak. My name is Vivian Chang. I live in the Chinatown North neighborhood and I'm the executive director of Asian-Americans United. Um, so continuing on what we testimony shared, we want to focus on basically barriers that are created for limited

23
00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:39.279
English proficient voters, especially Asian-American voters that we work with. Um, there are real training gaps and especially kind of dangerous attitudes among poll workers that create these barriers. Um, I've been part of the poll monitoring team for several election cycles and unfortunately seen these

24
00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:56.720
persist. Um so what we've documented for example is that some pole workers dismiss the need for interpreters. So when we ask them about you know what they what languages or what uh language materials they provide or whether they think that this is something that they need we've had poll workers who say just

25
00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:11.360
like we said they don't have any non-English speakers in their ward and that's physically impossible. Um, but that kind of perspective can create these barriers where non-English-speaking or limiting voters don't feel comfortable voting at those

26
00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:26.959
polls or reaching out. Um, also on Penn's campus that we always visit a few sites and there's a lot of international students or just folks who might be working there and the attitude there is like well everyone has to pass this English exam so they don't need this

27
00:09:26.959 --> 00:09:43.360
help but we're supposed to be a welcoming city. So, uh, we have to be able to kind of address this through a lot of training gaps because these these are assumptions and, you know, for some folks maybe they've been working this for a long time and their neighborhood changes. They don't realize like, hey, I have more immigrants or more new

28
00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:59.200
citizens in my neighborhood. Um, and as these assumptions keep persisting, that discourages voters from seeking help. Um, this is also misinformation and is now, you know, already adding to the escalations from impacts from ICE and myths about non-citizens voting. So, we

29
00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:14.560
want folks who are naturalized citizens to feel like they have the right and they have the power to be at the polls as well. So, these training gaps have serious consequences. Um, in addition to language access, one of our youth was a first-time voter. She just turned 18, but she was denied a ballot at first

30
00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:31.200
because a pole worker told her that her student ID did not count as a photo ID. um when she produced a second ID, she was still issued a wrong ballot because the poll the electronic book did not show her party affiliation even though she had registered properly. So instead of resolving that issue, the poll worker

31
00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:47.360
said, "We'll fix it for November. Just vote the nonpartisan ballot today." Um and they accused the voter of trying to vote twice when she tried to fix the problem after calling us. So these are not isolated incidents. And if that 18-year-old kid had not known to call

32
00:10:47.360 --> 00:11:03.519
AAOU, she would have just lost the right that day on the very first time voting. Um, so these are often very systemic failures in the training. So pole workers, unfortunately, many don't know what materials are in their boxes there. They don't know how interpreters get assigned or or why they might or might

33
00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:18.480
not be there today. And they often don't necessarily use the language hotline. Um, and so this reflects like a lot of times it's like yes folks think okay I've done this for years and years or maybe the training is kind of like a thing you just go to and you're not really listening to but these are really

34
00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:35.120
really important issues especially as we want to stay a welcoming city. Um, other things we've seen uh in things that the comprehensive training needs to cover is like what materials are provided um how to use it. I think again a lot of folks might be familiar with some of it but they're really not necessarily going

35
00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:51.200
through at that level of detail. Um training should cover how interpreters should be working where they should be sitting visible to the voters. Uh I think sometimes there's not enough interaction between poll workers and interpreters. Um they should also cover in training like how do you identify and

36
00:11:51.200 --> 00:12:06.480
assist limited English proficient voters. Sometimes folks leave it up to the interpreter or if they don't have any again they just assume well there's no leap voters at my location. Um, training should also cover how to resolve ID and ballot issues correctly and just, you know, basically like how

37
00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:22.959
do we treat voters with respect? How do we be more opening um and welcoming and not just kind of like receive whoever comes in here whether they come or not? Um, so yeah, we were we just really appreciate you all taking the time to listen. We also appreciate Commissioner uh Bluestein coming out and just like visiting polls with us because I think

38
00:12:22.959 --> 00:12:39.600
even I was like, "Oh yeah, I'm sure it works this way or that." But seeing it every day on, you know, election day, it like really helps kind of understand, okay, what does it look like for a voter, especially a new voter or especially someone who is interacting with our civic systems on election day,

39
00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:56.000
and they're like, oh, I don't know how to interact with this person. I may not be able to speak this confidently enough. Um, so yeah, we just appreciate you all taking the time to listen today. Um, and definitely encourage, you know, to reach out and definitely want to be in touch. Thank you.

40
00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:16.320
>> Sure. >> Anybody else? >> Hello, commissioners. Uh, thank you very much for having me. My name is Patrick Stegiller. I am not a taxpaying resident of Philadelphia, not because I don't pay taxes, but because I'm not a resident.

41
00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:32.800
Um, I am a voting rights attorney with the Asian-American Legal Defense Fund. uh and I have been working in Philadelphia for the past five years uh to expand language access and help the city uh reach the goal of compliance with all state and federal voting rights

42
00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:49.839
acts and uh to follow up on the testimony from my friends at AAOU. I would like to read into the record five clear recommendations that ALDEF can give to the city to ensure compliance with its federal obligations under section 203 and the Help America Votes Act. This is part of a observation

43
00:13:49.839 --> 00:14:07.120
letter that we recently just filed with your offices and put into the record, but I'd like to read these five recommendations in as well. First, improve poll site signage and visibility. Ensure all polling sites have multiple visible vote here signs with ward division listings and notices

44
00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:23.519
indicating the availability of interpreters and sample ballots in all relevant covered languages, which in Philadelphia would be Chinese and Spanish. Second, ensure adequate translated materials, which means providing sufficient quantities of translated sample ballots and ensure

45
00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:39.199
that they are prominently displayed and accessible to voters. Third, strengthen interpreter programs, increase interpreter coverage, ensure proper placement at near entrances so that voters are able to actually access the interpretive services available to them,

46
00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:54.320
and require proactive engagement with voters. Fourth, enhance pole worker training. Provide updated, comprehensive training on language access requirements, interpreter coordination, and voter assistance protocols. And finally,

47
00:14:54.320 --> 00:15:10.639
fifth, expand pre-election outreach, distribute multilingual materials in community spaces, and notify voters about the availability of interpreters and language assistance services in advance of upcoming elections. Thank you all again for your time. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring the people

48
00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:34.079
of Philadelphia are able to vote in accordance with their state and federal rights and uh have a great rest of your meeting. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Uh my name is Al Sharif Nasif. have been um a

49
00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:49.199
taxpayer based in West Philadelphia for much of the last decade and I'm here on behalf of the organization All Voting is Local as well as the Coalition Citizens for Language Access. Uh both are dedicated to protecting the franchise and ensuring the right to vote for all Philadelphiaians. Uh first, I do want to

50
00:15:49.199 --> 00:16:04.639
thank uh really all of you for the uh the challenging and sometimes thankless work of the commission. uh when you know over a dozen community led organizations asked for increased language accessibility in voting, the commission acted uh and you passed the language accessibility motion expansion

51
00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:22.320
unanimously by bipartisan effort. You tripled the languages at our of our election materials and improved access to the ballot for at least 47,000 uh and maybe up to 87,000 Philadelphia citizens of voting age who are limited in English proficiency. Uh and this is according to

52
00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:39.360
the US Census Bureau. and you all created the language access advisory committee to keep this work moving forward so that Philadelphia can set the standard for best practice in the birthplace of American democracy and we're all here today because we believe in that promise and we stand ready to

53
00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:55.839
build upon that promise that you already taken steps toward um and so I just want to make a few asks first let's reconvene the advisory committee the members hold deep expertise across our language communities and the city needs needs

54
00:16:55.839 --> 00:17:10.880
them back at the table. Second, let's bring the full capacity of all three offices um into dialogue with that committee. This work shouldn't rest on just one office. I think it's strongest when when the labor is shared. Let's all work together to implement the the

55
00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:26.400
commission's policy. And third, uh, let's just consider the steps necessary for Philadelphia to fully comply with federal voting rights law, especially section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires language, uh, Chinese language accessibility. Members of the advisory board and supporting

56
00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:41.919
organizations, we stand uh, ready to help address any barriers that might affect Chinese Philadelphia voters. And, you know, it's our strong preference to work constructively and collaboratively to ensure compliance and to troubleshoot. Um and you know given the

57
00:17:41.919 --> 00:18:03.280
history of the positive steps of the commission um there's no doubt that we'll have uh you know we have full confidence that we'll see this momentum move forward and and we look forward to collaborating with you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate anybody else public comment. Thank you for your uh comments everyone

58
00:18:03.280 --> 00:18:19.360
and u we definitely look forward to putting our ruling up our sleeves and doing work. We don't go fishing after elections. You know, in this department, we work hard. So, let's work together. Let's make accessible for everyone. Uh, Secretary Bluestein, were there any

59
00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:35.520
email public comments? >> Thank you, Chairman. Uh, all comments that were emailed were shared with the commissioners and deputies and have been provided to each commissioner at the beginning of the meeting. They're also available at the public comment table. We received one comment for this week's meeting from Leah Wong of Aldef uh

60
00:18:35.520 --> 00:18:52.960
related to language accessibility observations on election day. Um I've reviewed the comment and asked that it be moved into the record. >> I've also reviewed them. >> I have also reviewed them and agree that they should be moved into the record.

61
00:18:58.960 --> 00:20:59.520
We now proceed to new business. The board will now sign the certification for the May 19th, 2026 primary elections. I know. I'm just Does anybody Thank you. Thank you. We will now move to any additional

62
00:20:59.520 --> 00:21:16.400
comments by commissioners. Vice Chair Diller, do you have any other business to be raised at this meeting? >> I have none. Thank you. >> Secretary Bluestein, do you have any other business to be raised this meeting? >> I have none. Thank you. >> I would like to thank all of the uh

63
00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:33.440
staff working tirelessly and another successful election. uh the election results uh were we were at I think believe we're at 99% uh before midnight. So kudos for the changes that we're making and again staff definitely

64
00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:50.240
want you to feel free to experience you know new things when it comes to our elections. When I first uh was elected, one of the things what older staffers were always telling me was that the way we've been doing things is because we've

65
00:21:50.240 --> 00:22:07.360
always been doing it this way. It wasn't no clear reason. So again, keep coming up with new innovative ideas for us to give the citizens of Philadelphia the elections that they deserve. Okay. Thank you, commissioners, as always, my

66
00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:22.880
colleagues. I really appreciate y'all. You know, I know it's not easy being at the top. You know, you talk about things like uh death threats and scrutiny. You know, it's very hard to be a commissioner in the city of Philadelphia. So, Vice Chair Lisa

67
00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:39.360
Dailyy, I thank you for your service. Secretary Bluestein, I appreciate you for your service as well. A motion to adjourn this meeting of the return board. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Secretary Bluestein, please call the role. Vice Chair Dy >> I

68
00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:45.120
>> I vote I chairman Seabir I meeting is a journ