Election Day is Tuesday. Here's what Philadelphia voters need to know

Philadelphia votes Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone in line at 8 p.m. can still vote, according to the city's election guide. Statewide, the ballot includes the governor's race, Congress and the state legislature, WHYY has reported. Every Philadelphia voter, including those not registered with a party, will also see two questions that would change the city's Home Rule Charter.

This week, city officials said they are prepared for the federal election monitors the U.S. Justice Department plans to send. "We are prepared to protect your sacred right to vote," said City Commissioner Lisa Deeley, the commission's vice chair, the Inquirer reported. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said election workers will keep the vote "safe, secure, and accessible," the paper reported. Our explainer on the monitors covers what they can and can't do.

If you vote by mail

• As of Thursday, the city had sent out more than 129,000 mail ballots and about 86,000 had come back, the Inquirer reported.
• Your completed ballot must reach the county by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Postmarks don't count, so at this point the city's guide points voters to in-person returns: 34 drop boxes citywide (map) and 10 satellite election offices (list).
• You can return only your own ballot, unless you are a designated agent for a voter who is ill or disabled. Ballots can't be dropped off at polling places.
• If you got a mail ballot but want to vote in person, bring the entire packet and hand it to the judge of elections. Without it, you vote by provisional ballot.

Find your polling place, with accessibility details and a ballot preview, at atlas.phila.gov/voting.

The two charter questions, and where they came from

Both questions started as City Council legislation. Our records show how each one got to the ballot.

Question 1: city contracting. It would allow bid preferences and set-asides for small and local businesses on some city contracts and give officials discretion on bond requirements for some construction work. Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson sponsored the proposed amendment, Resolution 260467, and the bill that put it on the ballot, Bill 260457. The bill passed 16-0 on June 4 and was signed June 23. Our explainer.

Question 2: Creative Philadelphia. It would make the city's arts and culture office permanent in the charter. Bill 260264-A, from Isaiah Thomas with Anthony Phillips, Kendra Brooks, Quetcy Lozada and Rue Landau, passed 17-0 on June 11 and was signed June 23. Our explainer.

The official wording and plain-English statements are in the commissioners' ballot questions document. A "yes" vote changes the charter; a "no" vote leaves it as is.

One that didn't make it. A third proposal, for a Child Welfare Commission, missed the deadline for this ballot. Its sponsor, Nina Ahmad, introduced a new charter resolution on Oct. 29. Our story.

If something goes wrong

"Any voter intimidation won't be tolerated," Deeley said, according to the Inquirer. Problems at a polling place can be reported to the city commissioners. The Pennsylvania Department of State takes complaints at vote.pa.gov.

What's next

Council's next stated meeting is Nov. 12. We will report the results of both questions after the count.