Photo by Mike Conway on Unsplash
Philadelphia’s voter turnout in majority-Black neighborhoods dropped during last year’s local elections, leaving critical decisions in fewer hands. But that downward trend can change soon. On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Philadelphia voters will head to the polls for the General Election. Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM. This election determines who will lead the District Attorney’s office, control city spending as Controller, and serve on the benches that shape justice in our communities. For Black Philadelphians, these offices directly affect policing, criminal justice reform, neighborhood investment, and accountability in city government. Here is a comprehensive recap, so you can register, vote, and make your voice count.
Why This Local Election Matters
The offices on your November ballot control decisions that touch your daily life. We’ll elect Philadelphia’s District Attorney, who sets prosecution policies, decides which cases move forward, and impacts our communities. The City Controller audits how Philadelphia spends your tax dollars, investigates waste and corruption, and ensures that city contracts benefit residents fairly. We’re also choosing judges for the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court, who hear cases affecting housing disputes, family matters, traffic violations, and small claims. State-level Superior Court and Commonwealth Court judges on the ballot handle criminal appeals and cases involving state agencies.
Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices face retention votes this year. You’ll vote “yes” or “no” on whether each justice serves another ten years. These justices decide cases on voting rights, redistricting, policing, and education funding statewide. Local Judge of Elections and Inspector of Elections positions also appear on your ballot. These neighbors run your polling place and ensure fair vote counting. Together, these offices determine how police interact with our neighborhoods, whether city resources reach Black-owned businesses, and if justice applies equally across ZIP codes.
Who Can Vote & How to Register
You can vote in Philadelphia if you’re a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and a Pennsylvania resident for at least 30 days before the election.
Have you already registered but moved within Philadelphia? Update your address at the same registration site. Check your current registration status anytime at pavoterservices.pa.gov. Registration takes two weeks to process, so check back to confirm your information is correct. Don’t let an outdated address keep you from voting where you live now.
How to Vote: In Person, Mail-In & Absentee
You have three ways to cast your ballot:
Vote in person on Election Day: Polls open Tuesday, November 4, from 7 AM to 8 PM. Find your polling place at vote.phila.gov or atlas.phila.gov/voting. Bring photo ID if you’re voting at a new polling location for the first time. If you don’t have an ID, you can still vote by signing an affidavit.
Vote by mail-in or absentee ballot: Any registered voter can request a mail ballot without giving a reason. Apply online at pavoterservices.pa.gov, by mail, or in person at City Hall, Room 140, or satellite election offices. The application deadline is 5 PM on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Ballots began arriving in mailboxes in late September.
You can apply for your mail ballot, receive it, fill it out, and return it all in one visit at City Hall or any of Philadelphia’s 10 satellite election offices, open Mondays to Fridays 9 AM-5 PM and weekends, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Your completed ballot must be RECEIVED by 8 PM on Election Day; remember, postmarks don’t count. Return ballots by mail to the County Board of Elections, City Hall, Room 142, or drop them at secure drop boxes citywide. You can find drop box locations at phila.gov/voting. Track your ballot status online to confirm that it arrives safely. If you are unable to meet the October 28th deadline due to an emergency, you may still qualify for an emergency absentee ballot.
Barriers & Helpful Tips for Black Voters
Some Philadelphia voters may face real obstacles at the polls, such as long lines, confusion about polling locations, difficulty getting time off from work, and safety concerns. You can overcome these barriers with planning. Vote early by mail to skip Election Day lines entirely. Request your ballot now and return it at a drop box near you. Bring proof of address if you recently moved or registered. A utility bill, bank statement, or government document will also work. Philadelphia has community resources and voter-protection hotlines if you encounter problems at the polls. Arrange rides or childcare ahead of time, or vote at satellite offices on weekends.
Black neighborhoods have shown stronger turnouts when neighbors organized together by joining community voter drives, talking to family and friends, and by turning voting into a group effort. Our collective power grows when we all participate.
Local Resources & Where to Get Voting Help
Here’s where to get official, accurate information right now:
- Philadelphia City Commissioners (vote.phila.gov): Find your polling place, sample ballot, voter guides, and drop box locations
- PA Voter Registration (pavoterservices.pa.gov): Register to vote, update your address, or check your registration status
- PA Mail-In & Absentee Ballots (pa.gov/agencies/vote/voter-support/mail-in-and-absentee-ballot): Apply for mail ballots, track deadlines, and learn return options
- Ballotpedia Philadelphia 2025 Elections(ballotpedia.org/City_elections_in_Philadelphia,Pennsylvania(2025)): candidate information, office descriptions, and voter guides
- Satellite Election Offices (vote.phila.gov/seos): 10 locations citywide for in-person registration and mail ballot services, open 7 days a week
- thepbsc.org: contact for the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention.
Community connections: Many Philadelphia churches, civic organizations, and neighborhood groups host voter registration drives, provide rides to the polls, and share trusted information. Connect with local groups you trust for support.
Your Voting Checklist
We’ve made it simple. Just follow these steps today:
☐ Register or check your registration at pavoterservices.pa.gov before October 20
☐ Decide how you’ll vote: In person on November 4, or request a mail ballot by October 28
☐ Find your polling place at vote.phila.gov if voting in person
☐ Request your mail ballot now if voting by mail (the deadline is Tuesday, October 28, at 5 PM)
☐ Return your mail ballot by 8 PM on November 4. Use a drop box or mail early
☐ Bring ID if it’s your first time at a new polling place
☐ Share this guide with family, friends, and neighbors
Register or check your registration now. Your vote will shape the future of Philadelphia.
This article is brought to you in partnership with Every Voice, Every Vote.
Read also:
FunTimes Magazine | All the Candidates in the 2025 General Election
FunTimes Magazine | Judicial Voter Guide: 2025
Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.
