Good morning. I call to order the meeting of the Philadelphia City Commissioners Board of Elections for Wednesday, April 15, 2026. This meeting is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. The
Philadelphia City Commissioners are a three member bipartisan board of elected officials in charge of elections and voter registration for the city of Philadelphia. Each commissioner is elected to serve a four-year term that coincides with the municipal election
cycle for the 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
the Pennsylvania assembly in 1711 with a focus on taxation and held various regulatory powers throughout the century. The commissioners started maintaining voter list in 1799 and took on more election related responsibilities but didn't emerge in
its current form until the adoption of Philadelphia home charter in 1951. We will start off with public comments. Before beginning their comments, commenters should state where they live or if they are not a resident of Philadelphia and that they are a Philadelphia 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 and my discretion. Public comment must concern matters on
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,
please raise your hand and I will recognize you. Outbursts will not be tolerated. Anyone wishing to offer public comment, please step forward. Hearing none, we will now move to a report from our secretary for email public comments. Commissioner Bluestein,
are there any email public comments? >> As of 9:45 a.m., there were no email public comments. >> Thank you very much. We will now proceed to old business. First, we have report from our director of election operation, uh, Mr. Joseph Lynch. And Mr. Joseph
Lynch will read our directors of administration report as well. Thank you, John. Morning, commissioners. >> Election operation report. This is our public meeting update for April 15, 2026. At the election warehouse, all units
have been busy preparing for the upcoming election. Voting machine service unit is preparing for logic and accuracy testing, which will commence on Monday, April 20th, and if all goes well, they will go right into the final test. The e- pole e- pole book unit has
been updating the network in the box network and ensuring it works on all poll books. The election material unit is has been working on to ensure that the supplies needed for our pole workers are ordered, organized and ready for packing. We currently have 24 machine
demos scheduled. Three are for our involved 17 trainings for our voter registration rep for excuse me for our voter registration report. The election cycle to date Delaware and Spring Garden has processed 108,890
voter registration applications. 15,550 were paper. All applications are up to date and are being reviewed. They also mailed out 14,90 ID cards. As of yesterday, the County Board of Elections has approved 72,41
votebymail applications, which is 1,602 added from last week's total. Of those, 41,87 are paper applications, and 30,234 electronic applications. This includes civilian, overseas, military, and
federal voters. We currently have a total of 155 paper applications waiting to be processed. Voters will need to complete and return our application to the county board of elections office by 5:00 pm on May 12th to vote by mail for the primary
elections. The board worker unit has been handling spring training with 2,271 attending so far. The election board spring training seminar schedule is posted on our website at vote.fill.gov gov
on. It's not on your list here, but online pole worker training will go live on April 20th. Weekly reminders will go out to go out to those who have not yet attended. The unit has 6,713 pole workers confirmed to work at the
polling location. So far, 713 confirmation messages have been sent to pole workers. Also 557 applications have been submitted for our involved at 17 program. Satellite offices are currently
assisting the public offices or public offices are open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. That's all I have for the operations um for the election administration briefing. Hold on one second. >> I'm sorry. >> Vice Chair, did you have any questions
for >> Secretary Bluestein? I have not. Thank you. >> Please proceed, sir. >> Okay. I'm sorry. The election administration briefing communications communications unit continues to perform at a at a high level with a strong focus
on both internal and external messaging. The team successfully concluded the spring election academy series and is now re repurposing that content into digital voter education materials. Social media outreach continues to
perform exceptionally well, reaching over 250,000 residents with strong engagement across the platform. Print production is underway for poll worker guides, signage, and ballot inserts all align with the upcoming election operations.
Multil mult multilingual translations have been complete completed across several languages to support accessibility and compliance. Additionally, formal notice has been issued to to party leadership regarding logic and accuracy testing scheduled for
April 20th. Overall, communication is operating in a very product proactive and effective manner. Engagements from an engagement standpoint team has been highly active across the city focusing on direct voter interaction and education.
staff conducted multiple outreach events at libraries, senior centers, churches, and community-based organizations. These engagements reached hundreds of residents, including seniors, first-time voters, and non-English-speaking communities.
We are seeing tangible outcomes, including new voter registrations, mailin ballot applications, and hands-on voter machine voting machine demonstrations. Community partnership continues to expand with additional outreach events scheduled through April, including
collaboration with outreach such as Asian Americans United and other local partners. The team is also continuing to distribute multilingual voter resources and build relationships across underserved communities. The unit
is doing an excellent job ensuring our presence is felt directly in the community. IT operations. It continues to operate in a stable and proactive posture as we prepare for increased election activities. The team is actively
actively supporting satellite election offices, ensuring both technical support and inventory readiness. All critical election equipment including pole worker pole worker phones, rover phones, and network in a box system are being prepared for
deployment. NIB units have been repaired have have been repaired, tested and are fully ready for use. NIB is network in a box. It is commun is currently supporting e- pole book and connectivity testing to
ensure seamless election day operations. Roles and responsibility with ESNS has been have been clearly defined strengthening coordination with our partners from a project standpoint. GIS dashboard upgrades are underway to enhance
operational awareness. Warehouse infrastructure improvements have been improved and are pending implementation. There are no major issues with the disruptions at this time. Human resources HR continues to focus on
work workforce readiness as we approach peak election activities. The team is onboarding new temporary staff and preparing for surge staffing. Orientation process are being streamlined to improve efficiency. Workforce planning and budget alignment
for efforts to remain ongoing. Currently staffing levels. Total employees 184. Exempt employees 30. Civil service 154. Temporary staff for the primary
currently at nine and increasing. HR remi remains aligned and prepared for the upcoming operational demands. Budget and finance. From a budget and finance perspect perspective, we are currently anticipating the midyear
transfer in a fiscal year 26 budget. These funds are planned to support the purchases and installation of a backup generator for the election warehouse, which is critical to our continuity of operations. Additionally, the funding will help offset increased election related
operational cost associated with the upcoming primary. This election will significantly strengthen both our infrastructure resilience and our operational readiness. Security. From a security standpoint,
coordination across our law enforcement and public safety partners remain strong and ongoing. Our next election security coordination meeting will be held this Thursday, continuing our structured planning efforts. Additionally, we plan to
select Rashad Williams as our new security office officer, which will further enhance our operational coverage and field presence. That's all I have. Commissioners, >> thank you. Vice Chair Dilly, did you have any questions or comments?
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I actually would have some questions for Mark, who I thought was here. I thought I saw him this morning. >> Yeah, he he had a emergency. Had to leave. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Secretary Bl. >> Thank you, Chairman. I don't have any
additional questions for Joe. >> Thank you, Joe. >> Thank you. >> We will now proceed to new business. We will begin by considering our first agenda item. I motion to hire Kevin Nielson for the shore technical lead
position. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Does any commissioners want to make any comment before we call a vote? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. >> Please proceed. >> I have some questions um actually for Mark on this topic. Um but I guess I'll
ask Joe. Uh I know that this topic was discussed at the deputy meetings, but my office was never invited to any interviews with any candidates for this position. >> Were interviews for this position conducted >> for the shore user? >> Yes, sir.
>> Um I would have to check with Mark on that. >> Okay. I don't I don't I don't believe >> I wasn't I wasn't part of any >> Okay. Well, it's unfortunate that Mark is not here for these questions, but thank you, Joe. Secretary Bluestein, please go to
>> Vice Chair Dilly. >> Abstain. >> I vote I. Chairman Seabir. >> I. >> Thank you. We will now proceed to polling place changes. We will hear from polling place investigation supervisor
Charlie Strowman. Morning commissioners. >> I have 15 proposals for change this morning. The first four will be in the three in the fifth ward and one in the 18th ward.
That would be moving out of Punchline Philly back to the Fillmore music venue and that is back to the original location. Thank you. I move that this board accept the recommendation of the professional staff for ward 5,
division 21, 33, 34, 18, and ward 18, division 18, 19. Did I say that right? >> Okay, wrote. Read that again. Be patient
with me. Ward 18, division 19. Okay. I move that this board accepts the professional recommendation for W five, division 21, 33, and 34, and ward 18, division 19. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Secretary Bluestein, please call a role. >> Vice Chair Dilly, >> I vote I. Chairman Sabir, >> I. Please proceed. >> Next one will be in the ninth w 13th division. moving out of action karate to the Lutheran Theological Seminary and
that is due to a scheduling conflict. >> I move that the board accepts the professional recommendation for Ward 9 division 13. Is there a second? >> Secretary Bluestein, please call the rule. >> Vice Chair Dailyy >> I.
>> I vote I. Chairman Seabir. >> I please proceed. Next one will be in the 10th ward, the 13th division, moving out of West Oak Lane Library to the Mashulu Mosque. And that is due to a rebuild project. >> I move that the board accepts the
recommendation of our professional staff for ward 10, division 13. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Secretary Bluestein, please call the role. >> Vice Chair Dey, >> I. >> I vote I. Chairman Seir, >> I. Please proceed. Next one will be in the 49th w the sixth division moving out
of Oaklane library to the Lwood school and that is to a rebuild project also. >> Having heard the recommendation of the professional staff I move that we accept the bone please change for ward 49 division 6. Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Secretary Bluestein please call a rule. >> Vice Chair Dey >> I. >> I vote I. Chairman Seabir >> I. Please proceed. Next two will be in the 49th word again seventh division and the 16th division moving out of the Cherishure Rec Center to the True Faith
Missionary Baptist Church and that again to a rebuilt project. >> Having heard the recommendation of the professional staff, I move that we accept the polling place change for Ward 49, division 7 and 16. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Secretary Bluestein, please call the role. >> Vice Chair Dy. I >> I vote I chairman Seabir. >> I please proceed. >> Next six will be in the 50th ward. First division, fourth division, 10th division, 17th division, 19th division,
and 22nd division moving out of Emanuel Rec Center to Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and that is due to mold conditions at Emanuel Rec Center. Having heard the recommendation of the professional staff, I move that we
accept the polling please change for ward 50th division 1 4 10 17 and 22. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Secretary Bluestein, please call the role.
>> Vice Chair Dey >> I. >> I vote I. Chairman Sabir >> I. >> Thank you Charles. >> You're welcome. >> That was easy, huh? Yeah, two more to go. >> I thank you for all the hard work that you do. I mean, every election cycle,
the logistics, dealing with the community, you and your whole team. Definitely appreciate you. That is our last item on our agenda before we adjourn. Vice Chair Dilly, do you have any business to be raised at this meeting?
>> Please proceed. After the reorganization of the board and the imple implementation of these rules, one of my colleagues said that these rules would make this board and its operations quote a little bit more
inclusive and collaboratively and collaborative. Clearly, that is not the case. Now, I have not voted for these hirings because I don't agree with how the positions are being used. But I don't believe um that there was any
opportunity for my office to be involved in any interviews for the position. In addition, I do have some questions about the selection of a security officer position, which I also don't believe uh there were any interviews for, but Mark
is not here to answer my questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you. Secretary Bluestein, you have any business agreements this meeting? >> I have none. Thank you. >> Uh well, I would like to uh sort of just
reiterate uh that there are deputy meetings that are occurring every week and everybody in this building knows where the deputies meetings are occurring at and they have been occurring since since the reorganization happened. So if
anyone wants to offer any uh suggestions, any input, we're always here. And as the words of our younger constituents, we're outside >> a motion. >> Mr. Chairman, if I may, I just for the record,
hold on. >> I appreciate that we have deputy meetings and we have been attending them. >> Excuse me, madam vice chair. If you have question first and foremost, you have to ask for permission. You were given the floor, so you have to ask for permission to speak. Those are rules that we all agreed on. So, are you asking permission
to speak? >> Yes, please. >> You may speak. So I just for the record wanted to make note that yes indeed there are deputy meetings and yes we have been participating in them. Thank you. >> Okay hearing no other business a motion to
adjourn today's meeting. Is there a second? >> Secretary Bluestein please call a role. >> Vice chair de >> I >> I vote I. Chairman Seir I. This means a jerk.