From preparing voting machines and opening polling places to helping residents cast their ballots, Philadelphia’s election teams worked across the city to support a safe, secure, and accessible election.
On Tuesday, November 3, Philadelphians headed to the polls to make their voices heard in the 2026 General Election.
Behind every ballot cast was a team of dedicated election workers, City employees, and community partners working to make sure residents had the information, resources, and support they needed to vote.
From neighborhood polling places to the City’s election warehouse, here’s a look at how Philadelphia prepared for and supported Election Day.
Election Day by the Numbers
The numbers tell an important part of the story. Here is a snapshot of Philadelphia’s 2026 General Election.
- 498,808— Total ballots cast
- 1,104,061 – Total registered voters
- 5% Voter turnout
- 685 — Polling locations across Philadelphia
- 9,044 — Poll workers who served on Election Day
- 106,215 — Mail-in and absentee ballots cast
- 38 — Ballot drop boxes available to voters
- 10 — Satellite Election Offices serving Philadelphians
- 3,600 — Voting machines prepared and deployed
- Ballot Question 1: City Contracts Yes:86% No: 21.14%
- Ballot Question 2: Arts & Culture Yes: 74% No: 16.26%
During the 2026 General Election, the City’s dedicated election warehouse staff reported 99 percent of unofficial results by 11:39 p.m., compared to the 2025 General Election, when 99 percent of unofficial results were reported the following day, marking a significant improvement in efficiency and transparency for Philadelphia voters.
Preparing Philadelphia for Election Day
A successful Election Day starts long before polls open.
In the weeks leading up to November 3, election teams tested and prepared voting equipment, coordinated polling locations, trained workers, and ensured essential materials were ready for voters across Philadelphia.
On October 29, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker visited the City’s election warehouse to highlight the work underway and the City’s investment in election infrastructure.
The visit offered a behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, preparation, and people responsible for supporting Philadelphia’s elections.
Making Voting Accessible Across Philadelphia
Throughout the election season, the Philadelphia City Commissioners – Chairman Omar Sabir and Commissioners Lisa Deeley and Seth Bluestein — worked to connect residents with the information and services needed to participate.
Residents could visit satellite election offices for voter services, use the City’s online tools to locate their polling places, and access information about voting by mail.
On Election Day, polling places opened at 7 a.m. and remained open until 8 p.m., giving voters across Philadelphia the opportunity to cast their ballots.
These efforts were part of the City’s ongoing work to make election information clear, accessible, and easy to find.
The People Behind the Process
Elections depend on people who are committed to serving their communities.
Across Philadelphia, poll workers, election staff, and City employees helped residents navigate the voting process, supported polling place operations, and worked behind the scenes to keep the election moving.
Their work included preparing equipment, answering questions, supporting voters, and processing ballots.
We thank the dedicated election staff, poll workers, and public servants who stepped up to serve their neighbors and help Philadelphia vote.
Keeping the Process Transparent
Election officials also coordinated procedures for handling ballots and preparing for the counting process.
As part of the City’s commitment to transparency, members of the media were invited to tour the election warehouse ahead of Election Day, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, preparations, and procedures in place to support a safe and secure election.
At the City’s election warehouse, teams began pre-canvassing mail-in and absentee ballots on Election Day, following established election procedures.
This work continues after the polls close as election officials complete the canvass and certification process.
Additionally, the Philadelphia City Commissioners warehouse staff maintains a public livestream through certification so that residents can see firsthand how election workers count the remaining ballots, reinforcing public trust in our process.
Thank You, Philadelphia
The 2026 General Election was made possible by the dedicated residents who participated and the many people who worked to support the voting process.
Thank you to every Philadelphian who cast a ballot, every poll worker who served, and every election employee and community partner who helped make Election Day possible.
To learn more about Philadelphia’s elections, visit vote.phila.gov.
For official election results, visit vote-results.phila.gov.
