In addition to registration services, prospective voters could even get a mail ballot printed on the spot when they signed up to vote this morning.\n<\/p>\n
Sabir added that even convicted felons and those in jail on pre-trial detention<\/a> can vote if they meet certain qualifications.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThere are about approximately 100,000 Philadelphians \u2013 the number may even be higher than that \u2013 who believe that they cannot vote simply because they have a criminal background,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe rule is if you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction, while you\u2019re currently incarcerated, you can\u2019t vote. But once you get freedom, once your feet hit the streets, you can compete. So once you get free, you can vote.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re currently incarcerated, for anything other than a felony crime, you can vote,\u201d Sabir said. \u201cEven if you\u2019re currently incarcerated and it\u2019s not a felony conviction, you can vote in jail. And we actually send ballots to the jails.\u201d\n<\/p>\n There are also plenty of city residents who are eligible to vote who just don\u2019t register, according to the commissioner.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI believe it\u2019s about 150,000, close to 150,000 18-year-olds that are not registered. So, that\u2019s a lot of votes. If we can get them registered, that will change the complexion of an election.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The process of getting registered is simple and Sabir said if you go to a city commissioners\u2019 satellite election office<\/a>, you can register and vote at the same time.\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe have 11 satellite locations located all across the city of Philadelphia, including City Hall. They can walk in, they can get registered to vote. And then they can request a ballot after they get registered, the whole process will take about 15 to 20 minutes. If you are already registered, you walk in, request the ballot. They\u2019ll print the ballot out,\u201d Sabir said.\n<\/p>\n