April 2016 Voter Experience Survey Results
Seventy distributed a pilot survey during the November 2015 municipal election that received more than 650 responses from Philadelphia and area residents. Most voters reported a smooth experience, but some issues at polling places were reported. And the final question revealed one in five respondents do not believe the "election process in Philadelphia produces fair outcomes." An important disclaimer: only rough generalizations can be drawn from the survey's nonrandom sample.
The April 2016 survey received 1,068 responses:
QUESTION 1: Did you vote in Person on Election Day or by mail?
| I voted in person | 1,062 | 99% |
| I voted by mail | 6 | <1% |
QUESTION 2: Were there any problems getting your absentee or alternative ballot?
| No | 4 | 71% |
| Yes | 2 | 29% |
QUESTION 3: Approximately how long did you wait in line to vote?
| Not at all | 543 | 52% |
| Less than 10 minutes | 388 | 37% |
| 10-30 minutes | 108 | 10% |
| 31 minutes to an hour | 7 | <1% |
| More than an hour | 5 | <1% |
| I don't know | 1 | <1% |
QUESTION 4: Did you encounter any individuals canvassing or distributing partisan flyers, button or posters inside the polling place (i.e. the space or room where the voting machines are located)?
| No | 863 | 92% |
| Yes | 85 | 8% |
Reports of illegal electioneering in Philadelphia (by zipcode)
QUESTION 5: Was there a problem with your voter registration when you tried to vote?
| Yes | 49 | 95% |
| No | 997 | 5% |
If "Yes": Were you allowed to vote?
| Yes. I used a voting machine | 39 | 80% |
| Yes. I used a provisional ballot | 8 | 16% |
| No. I was not allowed to vote | 2 |
4% |
QUESTION 6: Were you asked to show picture identification, such as a driver’s license, at the polling place?
| Yes | 49 | 95% |
| No | 997 | 5% |
If "Yes": Was this your first time voting at this particular polling place?
| No | 48 | 35% |
| Yes | 91 | 65% |
Were you then allowed to vote?
| Yes, by the voting machine | 134 | 96% |
| Yes, by the provisional ballot | 4 | 3% |
|
No, not allowed to vote |
1 | <1% |
QUESTION 7: Did you encounter any problems with the voting equipment or the ballot that may have interfered with your ability to cast your vote as intended?
| No | 947 | 91% |
| Yes | 81 | 8% |
| Don't know | 16 | 1% |
QUESTION 8: Did you need help or assistance voting due to a disability? No 1036 99% Yes 7 <1%
| No | 1036 | 99% |
| Yes | 7 | <1% |
If "Yes": How did you receive help or assistance voting at the polling place?
| A person of my choosing assisted me. | 1 | 14% |
| I used the auto keypad/headphone device. | 0 | 0% |
| The voting machine was lowered. | 2 | 29% |
| I had to submit an alternative ballot | 0 | 0% |
| I did not receive any assistance. | 4 | 57% |
Were you able to successfully vote?
| No | 1 | 25% |
| Yes | 6 | 75% |
QUESTION 9: Were the poll workers able to address any question or issues you encountered in the voting process?
| No | 241 | 23% |
| Yes | 46 | 5% |
| N/A | 752 | 72% |
QUESTION 10: Please rate the job performance of the poll worker at the polling place where you voted.
| Excellent (4) | 617 | 60% |
| Good (3) | 287 | 28% |
| Fair (2) | 90 | 9% |
| Poor (1) | 45 |
9% |
Voter satisfaction with poll workers' performance (by zipcode):
QUESTION 11: How confident are you that the current election process in Philadelphia (or in your particular county) produces fair outcomes?
| 4 (Very confident) | 390 | 37% |
| 4 | 442 | 42% |
| 2 | 141 | 14% |
| 1 (Not at all confident) 67 7% | 67 | 7% |
Voter confidence that the election process produces fair outcomes (by zipcode):