Poll Support

No. The State Election Code prohibits City officers and employees from serving on an Election Board. This rule applies to all state and local government employees in Pennsylvania. It does not matter if the position is elected (Judge of Elections, Majority or Minority Inspector) or appointed (Clerk, Machine Operator).

Serving on an Election Board may also violate the Charter's dual employment ban and/or the prohibition on serving as a candidate for elected office or an officer of a political party.

No.* City appointed officers and employees may not serve as certified poll watchers. Under the State Election Code, certified poll watchers must be designated by a either a political party or candidate. Certified poll watchers have special authority to be in the polling place before, during, and after voting. Watchers can inspect election records and observe the counting of votes or canvassing of voting machines. In addition, on behalf of the party or candidate they represent, the watcher may challenge any individual's application to vote directly to the Judge of Elections at the polling place. The Board concluded in Board Opinion 2020-005 that exercising these powers would constitute taking part in the management of a campaign or political party and is therefore prohibited by the Charter and Regulation 8.

* This restriction does not apply if your only City role is as a member of an advisory Board or Commission.

Yes. Nonpartisan poll observer or monitor programs are sometimes offered by groups such as Committee of Seventy or local bar associations. These poll monitors or observers are not certified and cannot enter polling places other than for the purpose of casting their own vote. So long as the program is through a nonpartisan group, City appointed officers and employees may participate, but must still comply with the restrictions on political activity applicable to employees of their City office.

Note that the State Election Code would still restrict certain employees of the Police Department from being within 100 feet of a polling place except under limited circumstances.

Maybe, depending on which City office you work in.

Administrative & Executive Branch (other than PPD) and members of Boards & Commissions that exercise significant powers of government: Appointed officers and employees in all offices of the Administrative and Executive Branch (other than the Police Department) may volunteer in non-managerial roles in support of a candidate for non-local elective office. As a result, these officers and employees may volunteer at the polls on behalf of a non-local candidate so long as they follow the other rules applicable to personal political activity.

Excluded local offices are listed in Regulation 8, Paragraph 8.1(k). Boards & Commissions that exercise significant powers of government are listed in Regulation 8, Paragraph 8.16.

Police Department, District Attorney, Sheriff, City Commissioners, Board of Ethics: Appointed officers and employees of the Police Department, District Attorney, Sheriff, City Commissioners, and Board of Ethics may not engage in any political activity with a candidate, campaign, political party, or partisan political group. As a result, officers and employees in these City offices cannot work at the polls in any capacity on behalf of a candidate, campaign, political party, or partisan political group.

Note that the State Election Code places additional restrictions on the proximity of certain Police Department employees to active polling places.

City Council Staff: Appointed officers and employees of City Council can work at the polls on behalf of any candidate so long as they follow the basic rules for personal political activity. City Council Staffers may also be involved in political management.

Members of Advisory Boards & Commissions: Members of City advisory boards and commissions are not subject to most of the Charter's political activity rules. If your only role with the City is on an advisory board or commission, you may participate in any political activity, including working at the polls, so long as you are not doing so while carrying out your City role, using your City title or position, or using City resources.