Phila. primary polls open at 7 a.m. today

Polls open at 7 a.m. today for what is expected to be a low-turnout primary, which means that important races probably will be decided by a small number of voters.

Turnout is seen as low because this is an off-year for major state or federal races. If not for the proliferation of campaign signs, many people probably wouldn't know there was an election today.

Still, key offices are in contention.

In Philadelphia, District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham, who has held the job since 1991, has decided to step down. Looking to replace her are five former assistant prosecutors: Brian Grady, Daniel McCaffery, Daniel P. McElhatton, Michael L. Turner, and R. Seth Williams. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Michael W. Untermeyer, who is running unopposed.

The other hotly contested city race pits incumbent City Controller Alan L. Butkovitz against challengers Brett Mandel and John L. Braxton. The victor will run against Republican Al Schmidt in the fall.

If you don't know most of these candidates yet, good luck with the judicial races. Thirty-three candidates are vying for seven positions on Common Pleas Court and four on Municipal Court.

Statewide, six appellate court seats are up for grabs: One on the Supreme Court, three on Superior Court, and two on Commonwealth Court.

In Philadelphia, there are two ballot questions.

One is a charter change that would allow the city to use alternatives to newspapers when making required public notices.

The other would allow for posthumous promotion to the next rank for any police officer, firefighter, or paramedic who dies in the line of duty.

The U.S. Department of Justice will have election monitors in Philadelphia to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws.

If you have a complaint about voting in the city, call the District Attorney's Office at 215-686-9641 or the City Commissioners at 215-686-1590.

If you have questions about voting, call the Committee of Seventy at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Polls close at 8 p.m., but you will be allowed to vote if you are in line by that time.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.

Committee of Seventy

Election hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

Philadelphia polling-place locator: www.phillyvoter.org or 1-866-268-8603.

Voter services

Philadelphia: 215-686-3460.

Bucks County: Registration questions, 215-348-6163; polling-place questions or issues, 215-348-6154.

Chester County: 610-344-6410.

Delaware County: 610-891-4673.

Montgomery County: Registration questions, 610-278-3280; polling-place questions or issues, 610-278-3275.

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For candidate information

To learn more about the judicial candidates, visit:

http://phillynews.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/

judicial-questionnaire-answers/

For information about the district attorney candidates, visit:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/

The_2009_race_for_Philadelphia_District_

Attorney.html?cmpid=16339736

For information about the city controller candidates, visit:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/

45058442.html?cmpid=16339736

For the League of Women Voters "Smart Voter" Web site, visit:

http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/05/19/pa/ph/

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Check philly.com today for live updates throughout primary election day from the city and region, and check for live election results after the polls close.EndText