In an era of polarization and misinformation, local governments are on the front lines of defending democracy. This session spotlights how the City of Philadelphia has approached election preparedness over multiple cycles—building trust through transparency, robust communication, and operational excellence.

Speakers share insights from Philadelphia’s experience since 2020, including how local officials prioritized election infrastructure, improved voter communication, ensured poll worker safety, and maintained public confidence under national scrutiny. Philadelphia’s commitment to transparency and accessibility offers a model for how professional, ethical local government leadership can reinforce public trust even in politically charged times.

The discussion explores lessons transferable to other jurisdictions: how local governments of varying sizes can adapt Philadelphia’s approach, engage residents proactively, and coordinate across departments to ensure accessible, secure elections.

The National Civic League’s Local Policy Lab will highlight findings from its forthcoming case study documenting Philadelphia’s election preparedness work and other examples of local governments innovating to strengthen democracy at the community level. Participants will leave with concrete strategies to improve election planning, resident engagement, and institutional trust in their own jurisdictions.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key strategies local governments can use to plan and communicate for safe, transparent, and trusted elections.
• Apply lessons from Philadelphia and peer jurisdictions to design cross-departmental collaboration and resident engagement efforts that build confidence in election processes.
• Evaluate how proactive election preparedness and community partnerships can strengthen institutional trust and civic participation in their own jurisdictions.
   

Presenters:

• Laura Wood, Vice President of Democracy at the Local Policy Lab and Director of Local Democracy Strategy, National Civic League (Moderator)
• Brian Elliott, Program Manager, City of Philadelphia, PA
• Stacy Irving, Senior Advisor, Homeland Security Programs and Strategic Partnerships and Delaware Valley Intelligence Center - Philadelphia Police Department
• Gabriela Raczka, Director of External Affairs in Managing Director’s Office, Community Services Division, City of Philadelphia, PA