PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia City Commissioners have completed their initial count of all of Philly’s votes cast in the general election and are now working on the recount in the U.S. Senate race.
“The 2024 general election was the safest, most secure election in Philadelphia history,” Commission Chair Omar Sabir told reporters on Wednesday.
Commission Chair Omar Sabir spoke to reporters at the election headquarters and warehouse in the Northeast, announcing they had counted 100% of ballots cast. That’s 726,700 — a little over 65% of registered voters.
It did not include about 3,000 mail or provisional ballots missing secrecy envelopes, signatures or correct dates.
“We have approximately 300,000 Philadelphians who lack basic literacy skills so we’re seeing the same mistakes over and over again,” lamented Sabir.
No sooner had that count been completed than workers started the recount in the U.S. Senate race. Commissioner Lisa Deeley noted that fewer than 17,000 votes separated incumbent Sen. Bob Casey from challenger David McCormick — less than a quarter of a percent — which triggered an automatic recount.
However, some 36,000 voters in Philadelphia, where Casey beat McCormick by 60 points, didn’t bother to vote in the Senate race.
“Your one vote could’ve put one candidate over the top or could have pushed the contest above the threshold requiring this recount,” said Deeley.
“This should be a wake up call for all voters in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. These downballot races, they matter.”
The commissioners expect the recount to take two to four days, but Sabir predicted the results are unlikely to change.