Primary Election Day In Roxborough, Manayunk: Who's On The Ballot

ROXBOROUGH-MANAYUNK, PHILADELPHIA — May 20 is Primary Election day across Pennsylvania.

In Philadelphia, the race to focus on is for the District Attorney's Office.

Voters will cast ballots for either sitting DA Larry Krasner or challenger judge Pat Dugan.

This is the hottest race to watch, as a Democratic primary in Philadelphia, especially for a race such as one for district attorney, is a de facto general election due to the city's overwhelming Democratic voter base.

While the DA race is the talk of the city, voter will also encounter ballot questions at their polling places.

Ballot Question 1 reads as such:

Should The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson to assist residents experiencing homelessness, help provide fair access to essential resources, improve quality of life in the shelter system, investigate client complaints, and provide oversight and recommendations to the City’s providers of homeless services?

Statement:

The City’s Home Rule Charter sets up the framework of City government. The Charter is the City’s constitution.

A “yes” vote means you approve the creation of a new Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson in City government. This Office will help people who don’t have homes get the services they need, and work to improve the City’s homeless services.

Ballot Question 2 reads:

Should the Home Rule Charter be amended to increase the minimum amount that must be appropriated for spending on Housing Trust Fund purposes in the City’s operating budget each year?

Statement:

The City’s Home Rule Charter sets up the framework of City government, including the rules for how the City can spend money.

Currently, the Charter requires that a certain amount of City money must be available to spend on programs related to building and maintaining affordable housing. That amount is based on overall City spending.

If you vote “yes” on this ballot question, that means you approve of requiring inclusion of an additional amount for that same purpose. The additional amount would be equal to the amount of money developers pay the City each year for zoning benefits.

And the final question is:

Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of an independent Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board and Office of Prison Oversight and to further authorize City Council to determine the composition, powers and duties of the Board and Office?

Statement:

The City’s Home Rule Charter sets up the framework of City government, Under the current Charter, an advisory board called the Board of Trustees of Philadelphia Prisons adopts standards and guidelines for the City’s prisons.

If you vote “yes” on this ballot question, that means you approve replacing the Board of Trustees of Philadelphia Prisons with a new City office headed by the Director of Prison Oversight and a board called the Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board.

The Office of Prison Oversight would be responsible for reviewing policies, investigating practices, and recommending changes at the Department of Prisons.

It would also support the work of the Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board.

The Board would hold regular public meetings and advise on how to make the City’s prisons operate better and more fairly.

Sample ballots are available to review online here.

Polls will open Tuesday, May 20 at 7 a.m. Voters can cast ballots up until 8 p.m.

Some polling places have changed due to the pandemic. If you're not sure where your polling place is, use this online tool to find out where to vote.