Wow -- I need some help here, folks. I was just denied voter registration forms at City Hall by Philadelphia's Deputy City Commissioner.
Pennsylvania is tied in the polls; there are only three weeks left to register voters by the deadline of Oct 6; the lion's share of Obama's support statewide is localized in Philadelphia; and from what I can tell, there is currently a scarcity of voter registration forms in town due to the way the Commisioner's office is limiting the release of blank ones.
I found out about the scarcity problem over the weekend when I visited my new neighborhood Obama office to register voters. They could barely spare any forms and said that the campaign was having difficulty getting new ones. I told them I'd head downtown ASAP to try to get more.
Please call Deputy City Commissioner Charles P. Mirarchi, III, and request that the office stock more forms. His number is (215) 686-3460; also (215) 686-3940. His fax is (215) 587-9107.
In my personal opinion, not having enough forms on hand to pass out to citizens interested in voter registration is tantamount to voter suppression -- especially in the weeks leading up to a historic presidential election in which the state -- and the city -- will play a decisive role. Charles P. Mirarchi, III, apparently does not share my view.
I requested 300 voter registration forms today and was denied. Instead of 300, his office gave me zero. They said they were running low (I'd just been in the day before and was given 200 by a woman who works there after much coaxing on my part.) I asked if they'd be getting more, and Charles Mirarchi, III, started explaining how difficult it is to work in their office when so many people come in requesting forms and then don't bring them back. I remained polite, and he became progressively more hostile.
"Encouraging Philadelphians to register to vote" is written into the City Commissioner's mission statement, which I reminded Mr. Mirarchi.
He asked sarcasitcally if he should have tens of thousands of forms on hand to give out to anyone who comes by. I said that I thought he should, and it seems that that is his job. It is a historic election. The forms are not dated and can be used in future elections. They DEFINITELY should have thousands of extra forms on hand. To me, it sounded like an attempt at voter supression.
I was then dismissively told that I could print them out on the website. I wasn't happy about not getting official forms, and I think most citizens would trust an official form more than a piece of paper printed off the web.
Please do what you can to put pressure on the state of Pennsylvania and County of Philadelphia to flood counties with the resources they need to allow us to get out the vote.
Deputy City Commissioner Charles P. Mirarchi is not the top of the food chain. Please also contact Philadelphia's City Commissioners and let them know their office needs more forms ASAP (and friendlier staff!):
Philadelphia City Commissioners:
Chairwoman Margaret M Tartaglione (D)
Phone: (215) 686-3460, 3461
Anthony Clark (D)
Phone: (215) 686-3462, 3463
Joseph J Duda (R)
Phone: 686-3464, 3467
Also:
Fred Voigt, Deputy City Commissioner
(215) 686-3460
Side note: I just googled Charles Mirarchi, III, and found that he was previously indicted in a scheme with PA politicos. From my experience, he also has a short fuse. He got angry at me immediately and then threatened to look up my personal voter file. I didn't trust him and refused to give him my name. He asked what organization I was with, and I told him I was a citizen volunteering on behalf of my neighborhood.
This is my first diary. Thanks Kos community, please help if you can. Only three weeks left to register in PA!
Update from kissmygrits in the comments, who just called. Action for tomorrow at City Hall:
He was really defensive. Said none of the forms were coming back to them. Said people should bring a letter from the campaign asking for forms, but he said that wasn't a requirement. He said the requester took 200 forms yesterday but didn't bring any back filled out, so he didn't want to give anymore.
He said there is an open meeting tomorrow at 11am, if anyone wants to attend and any of these issues can be addressed.
Update x2: Keep calling! Sounds like they're rejecting a ton of the forms that come back too. Very disconcerting and probably a more important revelation than this whole diary ... From bacalove in the comments:
I called the office and they said 300,000 have come out and only 175,000 have come back and of that number, only 39,000 are good!