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What experience and/or personal background qualifies you to hold this office? If elected, what would be your top three policy goals for this office?

I believe all people should have an equal opportunity to access a positive and empowering voting experience. As a community leader, election poll worker, committeeperson, block captain, and marketing professional, I recognize the direct correlation between election education and voter turnout in my neighborhood and across the city. I’m running for City Commissioner because I want to empower Philadelphians to register, vote, and ensure their voices are heard and protected.

  1. Ensure Election Day is running smoothly, so every Philadelphian is confident their vote is counted and their voice is heard.
  2. Protect voter rights, so every Philadelphian who is eligible to votes knows their rights and feels welcome at their local polling place.
  3. Increase voter turnout, so every eligible Philadelphian is empowered to cast a vote.

Philadelphia is the only municipality in the country with three elected officials who do nothing but oversee elections. Additionally, City Commissioners seeking re-election do not perform most of their duties one year out of every four. If you were to design an optimal election apparatus from scratch, what would it look like and why?

Overseeing elections requires a specific skill set, and therefore should be an appointed position based on experience and credibility in business administration, civic engagement and community organizing – similar to what the Committee of 70-led Better Philadelphia Elections Coalition called for in their 2017 lawsuit. As quoted in a May 2016 press release: “ the Coalition called on City Council to create a new Department of Elections administered by a professionally-accredited Election Director appointed by the Mayor, with oversight provided by an appointed, non-salaried, and bipartisan Philadelphia Board of Elections.”

By reformatting the office, it will operate leaner (through combining resources that currently sit with three siloed offices), and would be modernized and professionalized (with less patronage and more skill-based hires).

Given that young people are the largest subset of the electorate with the lowest turnout, what is your plan for engaging the next generation of Philadelphia voters? What programs would you pursue to facilitate increased electoral participation and remove any barriers for under-voting groups?

Through my work as a public school advocate and my seven-year tenure at Campus Philly, a nonprofit organization dedicated to retaining college graduates to the Greater Philadelphia region post-graduation, I understand how to energize and mobilize 18 – 25 year olds. Young people respond well to a curated experience, by being provided the information needed to succeed, rather than have to seek it on their own. This can be done in many ways:

Engage everyone through branded, coordinated marketing campaigns: (both on- and off-line, partnered with many different organizations) promoting voting-related information and opportunities, such as recruiting of Election Day workers, voter eligibility, calendar of registration drives, etc. It will be clear that this information is coming from the Commissioners Office and can be customized to different audiences through specific wording, design and distribution.

College Students: Making sure all college students with Philadelphia residency know that they are eligible to vote is a big first step. By working with the 20+ colleges in the City through admission offices and student activities staff, students can be given a digital information packet with voter registration information, their polling location and an application to work the polls on election day.

High School Students: In addition to pre-registering and registering high school students who are 18+, we should also be recruiting them to work on their election board. All Philly public schools are already closed that day, and many require or encourage students to complete community service. It’s a natural way to connect students to civic engagement. It also looks great on college applications and to add to a young person’s resume. Students can be signed up through their teachers or guidance counselors (for schools that have them). I will also working with teachers and education professionals across all grades to create open-source civics lesson plans (projects, assignments, etc.) which will be available on the City Commissioners website for teachers to download to incorporate into their classroom for free. Through this initiative, civics can be incorporated into any subject, whether is be math, science, english, art, etc.

Initiatives for additional under-voting groups would include:

Inform the public on voter eligibility. So many Philadelphians don’t even know they’re eligible to vote. We need to engage returning citizens, those with limited english proficiency, and those experiencing homelessness. I plan to use 21st century communication practices learned through my years as a non-profit leader and marketing professional to break down barriers to voting related information, ensuring all citizens have the resources to vote confidently.

Work with translators in communities across the city in advance of each election to provide translated materials and resources to prepare citizens with limited english proficiency well before they arrive at the polls.

Create better trainings for Election Day workers but also expanding the training portfolio to the public who may need help voting, whether it be trainings on how to request translation services, to using the new voting system once in place, to properly report illegal activity, etc.

What role, if any, do you believe City Commissioners play in educating the public about voting issues and the electoral process?

I believe this office MUST play a role in educating the public about voting and the electoral process. Studies have shown that when people feel more connected to the issues and understand what they are actually voting for and how it affects their daily life they are more likely to vote. I want to transform it into a public information agency by building coalitions and distributing tools and resources from the Commissioners’ office to better equip existing voter registration and engagement efforts. I will work to build a coalition of organizations and community leaders to talk with Philadelphians about their right to vote and the role they can play as citizens’ year-round, not just a few weeks before Election Day.

This office should be providing easy-to-understand, non-partisan resources to the many different services and organizations that work throughout the city to make sure voting is always part of the conversation year-round. This includes committee people, teachers, social workers, re-entry programs, homeless shelters, block captains, nonprofit organizations and anyone else working with the diverse communities that make up the city. People deserve to know the responsibilities of the offices they’re being asked to vote for, to understand the charter questions, know their voter eligibility status and should be engaged with voting year-round, not just right before Election Day.

What do you believe are the most serious issues plaguing Philadelphia polling places on Election Day and what plan would you propose to resolve these issues?

According to recent data from the City Commissioner’s website, only about 51 percent of elected seats are filled. In fact, 28 percent of polling places don’t even have a Judge of Elections. We need consistent and fully staffed election boards, better trainings for those staffers, and we must incorporate more customer service best practices. I would also work to change the format of how we staff our polls, by allowing two shifts and removing the barrier of the position being elected. I believe if we advertise the opportunities across the city and make it easier and more realistic for people to participate, we can fill all open positions and create a pipeline to fill those soon-to-be-open due to retirement. College students, high school students who are 18+, and anyone who wants to be civically engaged in their community should be targeted with branded, coordinated marketing campaigns (both on- and off-line, partnered with many different organizations) promoting the opportunity to work the polls on election day.

Do you believe that any updates or improvements to Philadelphia electoral rules, such as early or mail-in voting, could facilitate greater electoral participation? If so, what changes would you like to see and what would you do to implement such changes?

Most of the issues concerning electoral rules are state issues and not within the scope of this office. However, I would be a strong advocate for automatic voter registration, month-long early vote, no-excuse absentee voting, lowering the voting age to 16 (nationally, with PA urging the issue) and open primaries. I believe the City Commissioners office should function as an advocacy agency by sharing data, research and using the power of subpoena to make the case for progressive state election code reform.

Critical to a functional and efficient Election Day experience is the presence of trained and well-informed poll workers. What would you do to improve the pipeline of qualified workers for Philadelphia polling places? What, if any, changes would you make to the current training program or other aspects of the job (e.g., half-day shifts) for poll workers?

Having worked as a Machine Inspector for several elections and going to the trainings each time, I would advocate for a more hands-on experience, rather than observational. Staff should practice checking-in voters through role-play, have hands on training with the machines (or scanners), and fully understand the ADA-compliant accessories. There should also be a Frequently Asked Questions component of the training and customer service best practices, with a printed guide included in the training manual for reference. At the end of the training, participants should receive a quiz to review what was learned. The quiz results would self-graded, and simply used as a mechanism to confirm that the training information was absorbed.

Do you think the pros and cons of advocating for the purchase of new voting machines has been discussed and debated adequately with the public? If not, how would you have approached public education and debate on this issue differently?

No, I do not believe that the public had adequate opportunity to weigh in. Furthermore, it seemed that the RFP was tailored to fit the product offered by ExpressVote XL voting system by Election Systems & Software, LLC. Under my leadership, Philadelphia would have held multiple public forum sessions with ample notification, starting as early as December 2016 when it became clear that Philadelphia machines could not produce a proper recount. My team and I would have spent time both visiting communities and promoting online surveys requesting feedback from voters and Election Board members on their needs and requests for new system features. There would have also been an expo in Philadelphia County where the public could demo the different types of systems (the closest demo was an hour away and not promoted by the Commissioner’s office through sufficient channels). City Council members would also be asked to be part of the process, as they will ultimately approve the budget to purchase the recommended system and therefore should be equally well versed in the subject matter.

What, if any, system do you think should be implemented to improve registered voter check-in systems on Election Day? What would your plan be to implement an improved system and on what timeline? Finally, if your plan involves the purchase of an electronic system, how do you believe that the security of the voter registration list can be maintained?

Poorly run voter check-ins contribute to long lines at the polls and missed opportunities to capture votes so it is important that we consider ways to make the process smoother. I believe it makes sense to go to an electronic system, or an E-poll Book, especially in such a large jurisdiction as Philadelphia. The decision to purchase E-poll Books was made on February 21, and the selected vendor is Knowink LLC. One advantage includes the ability to hold the entire voter registration list, so if a voter’s name is not at a specific division, they can easily be informed of where they should actually be voting. E-poll Books can update voter data in a more timely fashion as a opposed to the paper option needing to be printed weeks prior the election, and most importantly it will reduce wait time, since the Election Board workers can access the data faster. My plan for implementation would start with citywide demos open to the public, ideally prior to the final selection process, but certainly starting immediately after. This will not only get existing Election Board workers in front of the E-poll Books, but can be used as a recruiting tactic for more Election Board members. Then the Commissioners Office will work with the vendor to create a written training resource available in print and online. The creation of this resource would be part of the final negotiated deal with the vendor. Finally, as we get closer the first election that these would be used, there would be more detailed, hands-on trainings followed by a self-graded quiz and reference 1-sheet for all Election Board members and committeepeople. On Election Day, there would be a small special volunteer task-force hotline and in-person service (perhaps working with the Committee of 70, college political clubs and/or the Bar Association, etc.), solely dedicated E-poll Book troubleshooting.

There are of course issues with E-poll books, which obviously start with network security, and the decision to purchase any one brand should include a consultation with an independent cyber-security expert. These devices are not related to the actual voting systems in any way, but like any tech there is always risk of data breach (identify theft), redundancy, and they should never be connected to the Internet. It’s important that the systems are secure and that the people using them are well trained. At least 27 states have selected the E-poll Book option, with mostly positive experiences and results.

What actions would you take to ensure that the office of the Commissioners is fully transparent in its decision-making? What would you do to ensure that the public has full access to decisions made by the Commissioners?

The City Commissioner’s Office currently has very little visibility. Many Philadelphians don’t know it exists, let alone understand the importance of its mission. As a result, there is little accountability for its actions and little public input for the incredibly important decisions the Commissioners make. The recent decision to purchase a new voting system is a strong example of this. I also believe the Office should be sharing the work it is doing year-round to advocate for state election code reform. Commissioners should interact with other areas of government, regularly participate in the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, as well as hold regularly scheduled meetings inclusive of all constituents, particularly low income communities and communities of color.

Every public meeting will be live streamed, and reports will be sent to anyone who subscribes to a listserv, and transcripts will be made available in the office (printed on-demand to avoid paper waste), and digitally through the website and social media.

Given that the issues facing polling places and poll workers are often governed by state law, what changes would you advocate for in Harrisburg to improve the efficiency of Philly’s polling places?

In addition to the changes outlined in Question 6, which I believe would improve the voting experience in general, I would also advocate for higher pay for poll workers, and support of a split shift in Election Day. If budget were not an issue, I would request a grant to promote voter-related information (SEPTA ads, PSAs, paid-digital) and if the sky’s the limit, I would repeal the decision to purchase the Express Vote XL systems and implement hand-marked paper ballots with optical scanners and limited Ballot Marketing Devices (BMDs).

How do you think resources (including staff and budget) and duties should be divided among the three Commissioners?

I think given the current structure of the office, the two Democratic Commissioners should pool staff and budget so that they have more resources to develop awider appeal and consistent messaging. I would be very open to having this conversation with my future colleague as we collectively stress-test the existing budget and resources.

Jen Devor, City Commissioner Candidate, additional materials

Here are two pieces of published work that show examples of my platform:

1. Philly needs new voting machines. Here’s why the buying process must be kept transparent
Written by Jen Devor, Generocity.com January 9, 2019

Philadelphia is poised to make a major, multimillion dollar decision that will impact each and every Philadelphian for years to come: Those giant, push-button electronic voting machines that we’ve used for decades are headed for the voting machine graveyard.

But what will replace them?

Because voting systems with a paper ballot are more reliable, eliminate the threat of cyber attacks and ensure meaningful post-election audits, the Pennsylvania Department of State informed counties in April of 2018 that they must replace their paperless electronic voting machines with new systems that are certified by both the federal and state governments.

These new voting systems are to be purchased by the close of 2019. Philadelphia has earmarked about $22 million toward the purchase of new voting machines, and the state is offering additional funding.
According to leading national experts, the most secure and reliable way to record votes is to let voters mark a paper ballot by hand, with a pen, so there’s no technology between the voter and the ballot, and then put it in a ballot box that includes a scanner. For voters who have difficulty hand-marking a ballot, there must be one ballot-marking device in each polling place. That’s typically a touchscreen computer with assistive input devices, plus a printer. Several of the available systems have these qualifying features and more are being certified.

But other systems are being certified, too. Some require all voters to use touchscreen ballot-marking devices instead of a pen — these systems put more technology between the voter and their vote and are more vulnerable to power outages and technical problems. They also lead to longer lines and costs significantly more both in initial purchase and in maintenance, storage and moving expense.

There are signs that the selection process won’t be as public and transparent as it should be. While it is up to City Council to approve the purchasing decision, it will likely listen to the recommendations of the City Commissioners. With barely three days notice, the city commissioners announced two public comment sessions: one on Thursday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m. and the other on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 9:30 a.m., both at 520 N. Columbus Blvd., 6th floor.

The commissioners certainly have years of expertise in running elections in Philadelphia, but the voters of Philadelphia have years of experience in participating in them. It should not be just the commissioners and the city’s Office of Innovation & Technology determining which voting system the city should purchase. As a city that celebrates its diversity and inclusiveness, Philadelphia should be a leader in inclusiveness and accessibility with voting, empowering informed voters to participate effectively in our democracy.

The city commissioners, committee people and concerned citizens alike should work together to develop an educated decision process that includes public hearings with sufficient advance notice and off-line promotion, public demonstrations of the various systems, and feedback from the voters who will soon be using them.

The city commissioners and Philadelphia City Council must prioritize the public interest to protect citizens’ trust in the election process. As citizens, we have a role to play not only on Election Day but in calling on our elected officials today — both in the city commissioners office and in City Council — and asking them to be transparent about this critically important decision.

Voting issues in our city have national implications when it comes to Pennsylvania’s representation in the U.S. House and Senate. As a city, we must prioritize public input. It’s time for better elections in Philadelphia, starting with better machines.

2. Philadelphia needs Election Day Workers
Written by Jen Devor & Anton Moore, Philadelphia Inquirer, August 20, 2018

Marching. Voter Registration. Running for Committeeperson. These are just some of the ways people have shown their interest in local politics. However, there has been one form of engagement that seems to be overlooked: working the polls on Election Day. There are a minimum of 5,058 people needed to fully staff the 1,686 polling places in Philadelphia. According to recent data from the City Commissioner’s website, only about 51 percent of elected seats are filled. In fact, 28 percent of polling places don’t even have a Judge of Elections, the lead position on the Election Board.

This presents an opportunity for a few thousand Philadelphians to participate in democracy, fulfill a civic duty and quite frankly, make a little extra cash.

Each member of the Election Boards make $95 to $100 a day, plus $30 if you attend a one-hour training. Staffers are either signing people in, resetting the machines and troubleshooting questions. You are also responsible for a fair and honest election, and protecting voters rights. There may be an occasional hiccup, a machine breaking down, someone needing translation services that aren’t easily accessible (and if you can serve as an Election Day translator, that pays $75 for the day). Though it’s a long day, most jobs can be done sitting down. With voter turnout in the city an unfortunate 17 percent last May, it can be a slow day.

But ask any of the hard working people who currently serve on Election Day, the authors of this op-ed included, and you’ll hear how much we love it. We love seeing our neighbors, hearing local news from the block, and, depending on who your Ward Leader is, you may even get a free hoagie for lunch.

Speaking of Ward Leaders, this is traditionally how seats are filled: by Ward Leaders encouraging constituents to run for these positions. With several new Ward Leaders throughout the city, and many newly politically engaged residents, there is a real opportunity to fill these seats. And it’s not just people already involved in local politics that are eligible — any registered voter 18 or older can participate. That means high school students should also be encouraged. All Philly public schools are already closed that day, and many require or encourage students to complete community service. It’s a natural way to connect students to civic engagement. It also looks great on college applications and to add to a young person’s resume.

Positions won’t be up for re-election until 2022 but there are still ways to join thousands of others as poll workers this November. Seek out your Ward Leader and ask them to help you get an appointment from the Court of Common Pleas: Trial Division. You may also be elected the morning of Election Day through what is known as a curbside election — a very Philly-sounding term where there is a vote by other Election Board members. Ask yourself; do you have the privilege of taking Paid Time Off from work? Are you under-employed and can use some extra cash? Are you a guardian, parent or yourself a high school students who is 18 or older? If the answer is yes to any of these, then the City of Philadelphia needs your help. We must build a consistent pipeline of poll workers, especially with new machines on the horizon. With all of the political energy across the city, collectively we should be able to fill the 49 percent of open seats on our local Election Boards.

More articles and press can be found at www.jendevor.com/press