With Pennsylvania’s presidential and state primaries set to take place on Tuesday, April 23, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and other city law enforcement leaders announced the activation of the Election Task Force (ETF).
The ETF will be activated for the municipal primary election starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, and will work to “safeguard the voting rights of Philadelphia residents,” according to the DA's Office.
"Polling location complaints and reported infractions of the Pennsylvania Election Code will be thoroughly and even-handedly investigated by ETF prosecutors, DAO Detectives in collaboration with our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation," a spokesperson for the District Attorney's Office wrote.
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In addition to Krasner, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and Managing Director Adam Thiel both spoke during Monday's press conference on the task force.
"The Philadelphia Police Department stands ready to assist our fellow stakeholders in ensuring a safe and fair election," Bethel said. "To that end, we are working closely with our City Commissioners, the Managing Director, and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to ensure that all lines of communication are open before, during, and after the election. We all stand ready to make sure that we are aware of any potential efforts to disrupt an orderly and safe election."
Voters who experience any irregularities at their polling location can call the DAO Election Task Force hotline at 215-686-9641. Voters can also contact the national nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE and any voters with questions about the election process should call the Philadelphia City Commissioners' Office at 215-686-VOTE.
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Any voters who experience violence or physical threats at their polling station should call 911 immediately.
The ETF will continue to operate until the certification of every vote, including overseas and military ballots, according to the DA's Office. The DA's Office said that anyone who is in line to vote by 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday must be allowed to cast their ballot.
"I'm grateful to the prosecutors and detectives of the DAO's Election Task Force who investigate and resolve complaints lodged by Philadelphia voters each and every election," Krasner said. "Between our ETF, the City Commissioners' Office, the Philadelphia Police Department and other law enforcement partners, and the hardworking and dedicated poll workers who volunteer each year, voters can rest assured that their vote will count. That's why I urge ALL Philadelphians to go to the polls tomorrow and VOTE."
