Philadelphia turnout is critical, if Hillary is going to carry Pennsylvania. So, any factor that might (stress might) depress turnout is a bad thing. Well folks, a wild card has entered the picture. SEPTA workers may be going on strike.
If talks do not resolve the differences between the city and the workers, the union is scheduled to go on strike on Tuesday, at 12:01 AM. That means no busses, no subway, no trolleys. This will throw a huge monkey wrench into the works in Philadelphia.
Now, how would that affect Election Day? No idea. Maybe more folks will vote, since they can’t get to work anyway. Maybe folks won’t vote, as they negotiate getting to and from their jobs in difficult, time-consuming ways.
Pennsylvania does not have early voting. So we can’t get voting out of the way before November 8th. As for absentee voting,the deadline to get a ballot is November 1st. And absentee ballots must be received by November 4th.
I’m a pro-union guy. I support SEPTA workers, as their union negotiates the best deal possible. But the possibility of no public transit (outside rail) in Philadelphia on Election Day makes me nervous.
