These Are the Most and Least Engaged Wards in Philadelphia
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Voter turnout in Philadelphia sucked in November’s gubernatorial race. Despite near-perfect weather and many accounts to the contrary, only 37 percent of registered voters actually showed up to the polls.
But a new report by City Commissioner Al Schmidt’s office shows that not all political wards are created equal.
In the 9th Ward in Northwest Philadelphia, 56 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. Compare that to the 7th Ward in North Philly, where only 17 percent of voters turned out.
The top vote-getting wards are, arguably, the Democratic and GOP strongholds of our city, and they’ll come as no surprise to junkies. For Democrats, Northwest Philly dominates. For Republicans, it’s the Northeast.
Here are the Philadelphia wards with the top five highest and lowest turnouts among Democratic voters in the 2014 gubernatorial election:
Wards With the Highest Turnout Among Democratic Voters
9th Ward in Northwest Philly: 59 percent
22nd Ward in Northwest Philly: 56 percent
50th Ward in Northwest Philly: 56 percent
10th Ward in Northwest Philly: 53 percent
52nd Ward in West Philly (tied for fifth): 49 percent
63rd Ward in Northeast Philly (tied for fifth): 49 percent
Wards With the Lowest Turnout Among Democratic Voters
7th Ward in North Philly: 18 percent
27th Ward in West Philly: 21 percent
33rd Ward in North Philly: 22 percent
25th Ward in Philly’s river wards: 23 percent
19th Ward in North Philly: 24 percent
And here’s the same breakdown for Republican voters in last year’s gubernatorial election:
Wards With the Highest Turnout Among Republican Voters
9th Ward in Northwest Philly: 52 percent
63rd Ward in Northeast Philly: 49 percent
66th Ward in Northeast Philly: 46 percent
57th Ward in Northeast Philly: 45 percent
58th Ward in Northeast Philly: 44 percent
Wards with the Lowest Turnout Among Republican Voters
20th Ward in North Philly: 11 percent
7th Ward in North Philly: 12 percent
19th Ward in North Philly: 13 percent
24th Ward in West Philly: 13 percent
27th Ward in West Philly: 13 percent