Election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, is near. For the first time, Drexel University has given students a day off to allow time to votes. This guide provides key information to help you feel prepared and informed when you go to the polls.
Key dates to know:
Mail-in ballots: If you requested a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania, it must be returned and received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. You can return your ballot by mail or visit a drop-off location, which is listed at vote.phila.gov/ballot-drop-off.
In-person voting: Vote in-person at a polling place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you can vote.
How and where to vote:
On-campus voting: Students living in Drexel’s residence halls can vote in person at the Drexel Recreation Center.
If you live elsewhere, you can find your polling place at vote.phila.gov.
If this is your first time at your polling place, you must bring a form of ID. Valid forms of ID include a voter registration card, driver’s license, passport or your DragonCard.
A guide to the candidates:
U.S. President
Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic Party, is the current vice president of the United States. She’s previously served as a U.S. senator and as California’s attorney general. She aims to restore abortion rights, lower taxes for the middle class and address climate change with legislation. She also supports the Equality Act and wants to revive the border security bill.
Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party, is the first prior U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. He hopes to carry out strict immigration policies, lower taxes for corporations and raise foreign goods tariffs. He has taken credit for the national right to an abortion being overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2022.
Chase Oliver, representing the Libertarian Party, is an activist from Atlanta. He believes “no government should regulate personal activities” or ” impose harsh penalties.”
Jill Stein, representing the Green Party, is a physician from Chicago whose goals are to guarantee free childcare, ban fracking, and close the country’s military bases abroad.
U.S. Senate
Bob Casey, representing the Democratic Party, is a three-term Senate incumbent whose campaign is for the working people. He supports raising the corporate tax rate. He is against a ban on fracking but advocates for a tax credit for clean energy manufacturing jobs. He hopes to extend Medicare programs, support programs for injured veterans and people with disabilities and favors the Women’s Health Protection Act.
Dave McCormick, representing the Republican Party, is a former hedge fund CEO. He is an advocate of fracking, supporting all forms of energy. He wants to reinstate Trump-era immigration policies, ban social media use for kids under the age of 16 and support an abortion ban except in situations including rape and incest. He believes states should determine abortion laws.
John C. Thomas, representing the Libertarian Party, is an educator who believes in smaller government and wants to stand up for citizens tired of inflation and the government spending money on wars abroad.
Leila Hazou, representing the Green Party, is a Palestinian small-business owner who wants to defend human rights in Pennsylvania and internationally, supporting environmental protection and a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.
Marty Selker, representing the Constitution Party, is a truck driver who is against abortion and believes the country needs to embrace more Christian, western values.
Attorney General
Eugene Depasquale, representing the Democratic Party, has served two terms as the Pennsylvania auditor general and says he uncovered $2 billion in waste, fraud and abuse in the role. He hopes to defend workers, go after scammers and support universal background checks for guns.
Dave Sunday, representing the Republican Party, has been the district attorney for York County since 2018 and speaks of his reduction in homicides and expansion of the Drug Task Force to address drug trade.
Robert Cowburn, representing the Libertarian Party, is a lawyer who wants to protect citizens from state and federal overreach.
Richard Weiss, representing the Green Party, is a lawyer who supports Medicare for all and a cease-fire in Gaza.
Justin Magill, representing the Constitution Party, is an attorney who believes the point of government “is to secure our God-given Individual Rights.”
Eric Settle, representing the Forward Party, is a lawyer who led the effort to pass Act 62, which requires insurance companies to cover services for children with autism.
Auditor General
Malcolm Kenyatta, representing the Democratic Party, is the first openly gay Black man to serve on the General Assembly. He wants to create a school audit bureau and a Bureau of Labor and Worker Protections, and he believes his upbringing in North Philadelphia helped him understand how the government works for people who depend on it.
Tim Defoor, representing the Republican Party, is the current auditor general. Previously, he was the elected controller of Dauphin County, where he led audits and fraud investigations for the state inspector general, the attorney general, and a central hospital system. He has also promoted financial literacy in K-12 schools.
Reece Smith, representing the Libertarian Party, works in financial services and wants to audit the offices of state legislature leaders.
Eric Anton, representing the American Solidarity Party, believes the government should be “informed by the Christian tradition.”
Bob Goodrich, representing the Constitution Party, believes in “demonstrating character, competence, and commitment.”
State Treasurer
Erin Mcclelland, representing the Democratic Party, was trained under former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O’Neill O’Neill and was a consultant for a White House initiative. She pledges not to invest worker pensions in foreign holdings.
Stacy Garrity, representing the Republican Party, is a retired Army Reserve colonel and Pennsylvania’s Treasurer. She has cut waste, reduced fees as Treasurer and improved the state’s unclaimed property system.
Nickolas Ciesielski, representing the Libertarian Party, founded the party’s Bitcoin Caucus and believes Bitcoin can solve many political issues.
Troy Bowman, representing the Constitution Party, is the party’s treasurer.
Chris Foster, representing the Forward Party, is an entrepreneur who believes in fiscal responsibility.
U.S. House 3rd District
Dwight Evans, representing the Democratic Party, is running unopposed for his fifth term representing the 3rd District. He sits on the Ways and Means Committee, is responsible for raising the country’s revenue, and is an ally of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
Pa. House 10th District
Amen Brown, representing the Democratic Party, is running unopposed for his third term, representing parts of West Philadelphia. He was born and raised in his District and believes the state should spend its money to send students from high-poverty districts to private schools.
Pa. Senate 7th District
Vincent Hughes, representing the Democratic Party, has represented Philadelphia in the state Senate since 1994. He is the minority chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which determines government spending across Pennsylvania.
Resources and support:If you need help at the polls, you can always call the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE. Any other voting information can be found at philadelphiavotes.com.