Voter Experience Survey November 2016
The November 2016 Voter Experience Survey was administered online with Survey Monkey and distributed via email to Seventy’s 11,000+ newsletter subscribers and through the organization’s Twitter and Facebook accounts; the live survey link was also available on www.seventy.org. Paid Facebook promotion was targeted to Philadelphia residents, ages 18 to 65+. The survey was open from 9 am on Wednesday, November 2 to Saturday, November 12, at 12 noon, available before Election Day for voters submitting absentee or alternative ballots. Respondents were limited to one submission per IP address.
Seventy appreciates the support of the community, civic and media organizations who assisted in disseminating the survey – and to the nearly 1,700 citizens who participated. Out of Philadelphia’s approximately one million registered voters, more than 704,000 cast ballots on November 8, 2016. Download a PDF version of the results.
QUESTION 1: Did you vote in person on Election Day or by mail?
| I voted in person | 1,627 | 97% |
| I voted by mail | 43 | 3% |
QUESTION 2: Were there any problems getting your absentee or alternative ballot?
|
No |
25 | 60% |
| Yes | 17 | 40% |
QUESTION 3: Approximately how long did you wait in line to vote?
| Not at all | 453 | 28% |
| Less than 10 minutes | 477 | 30% |
| 10-30 minutes | 375 | 23% |
| 31 minutes to an hour | 194 | 12% |
| More than an hour | 111 | 7% |
| I don't know | 3 | <1% |
QUESTION 4: Did you encounter any individuals canvassing or distributing partisan flyers, buttons or posters inside the polling place (i.e. the space or room where the voting machines are located)?
| No | 1,542 | 96% |
| Yes | 69 | 4% |
QUESTION 5: Was there a problem with your voter registration when you tried to vote?
| No | 1,530 | 95% |
| Yes | 77 | 5% |
If Yes: Were you allowed to vote? (Continued from Question 5)
| Yes, by voting machine | 59 | 76% |
| Yes, by provisional ballot | 16 | 21% |
| No, not allowed to vote | 2 | 3% |
QUESTION 6: Were you asked to show picture identification, such as a driver's licens, at the polling place?
| No | 1,271 | 79% |
| Yes | 331 | 21% |
If Yes: Was this your first time voting at this particular polling place?
| No | 131 | 40% |
| Yes | 200 | 60% |
Were you then allowed to vote?
| Yes, by the voting machine | 324 | 98% |
| Yes, by the provisional ballot | 6 | 2% |
| 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 | 1,461 | 91% |
| Yes | 109 | 7% |
| Don't know | 27 | 2% |
QUESTION 8: Did you need help or assistance voting due to a disability?
| No | 1,589 | 99% |
| Yes | 6 | <1% |
If Yes: How did you receive help or assistance at the polling place (Check all that apply)
| A person of my choosing assisted me | 4 | 67% |
| I used the audio keypad/headphone device | 1 | 17% |
| The voting machine was lowered | 1 | 17% |
| I had to submit an alternative ballot | 0 | 0% |
| I did not receive any assistance | 0 | 0% |
Were you able to successfully vote?
| No | 0 | 0% |
| Yes | 6 | 100% |
QUESTION 9: Were the poll workers able to address any questions or issues you encountered in the voting process?
| No | 80 | 5% |
| Yes | 394 | 25% |
| N/A | 1,100 | 70% |
QUESTION 10: Please rate the job performance of the poll worker at the polling place where you voted.
| Excellent | 899 | 57% |
| Good | 432 | 27% |
| Fair | 169 | 11% |
| Poor | 74 | 5% |
QUESTION 11: How confident are you that the current election process in Philadelphia (or in your particular county) produces fair outcomes?
| 4 (Very confident) | 972 | 60% |
| 3 | 457 | 28% |
| 2 | 111 | 7% |
| 1 (Not at all confident) | 68 | 4% |