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Philadelphia, PA – With City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart’s investigation of Philadelphia’s selection process for new voting systems complete, the controversy wrapped around the chosen system seems primed to continue, as does the leadership vacuum that has persisted throughout.

City on track to safeguard 2020 elections, but City officials must address confusion and distrust

As nomination petitions become available and the first day to circulate approaches, the Committee of Seventy, in partnership with Black Leadership Pennsylvania, hosted a sold-out launch event focused on Philadelphia’s ward system and the powerful, often-overlooked role of committee person – signaling growing public interest in neighborhood-level political participation ahead of the May primary election.

The Democracy Agenda for Philadelphia outlines the actions needed by our next mayor and City Council to ensure a more representative and ethical city government—a more democratic city government responsive to voters, that protects the public interest, and that engages communities on key decisions shaping their future.

To those who value our system of checks and balances, House Bill 38 contemplates a fundamentally different relationship between the legislative and judicial branches wherein the former has unequal power over the latter. Such a change would irreparably and severely impair the governance of the Commonwealth, and would harm the independence and impartiality of our court system. C70 urges the PA House to not advance this proposed constitutional amendment and allow HB 38 to lapse at the end of this session.

Closed primaries have been used in the Commonwealth for generations. But our politics have changed; our communities have changed; our voters have changed. So should our elections. That's why we launched Ballot PA, to repeal closed primaries.

This exercise is designed to help people do a fair-minded, useful assessment of how well a system or an organization is working.

Join the Committee of Seventy for the launch of a new civic education resource, How the Philadelphia Ward System Works — a clear, practical guide to how wards shape local politics and how residents can run for committee person.

What is the amendment about? City voters will decide on May 15 whether the so-called Educational Supplement to the Home Rule Charter dealing with the public school system will be amended in various parts. These changes would impact the nomination, appointment and removal process for Board of Education members and create a Parent and Community Advisory Council charged with “consult[ing] on issues pertaining to educational policy and family and community engagement in schools.”

Registered voters support open primaries and top-two system for Pennsylvania