With the 2024 presidential election just two weeks away, the question of where the 206 registered voters who live in Chestnut Hill Tower will cast their vote has been a confusingly moving target. 

The building, located at 7600 Stenton Ave., served as the 17th Division’s polling location for more than 20 years, and as of last week was still listed as such. 

But that division’s voters were temporarily sent to the United Lutheran Seminary in Mt. Airy during the 2020 primary when a shortage of workers forced city election officials to consolidate polling locations. They were then relocated to Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting on Mermaid Lane during the 2020 general election and moved back to Chestnut Hill Tower for the 2024 primary. 

And while building residents would much prefer to have their own polling site back again, building management does not appear to agree. 

“The building management didn't like having (a polling location) there, and basically told us that they didn't want it back again,” Ninth Ward Democratic Leader Jeff Duncan told the Local. 

According to Duncan, Tower residents make up about 42% of voters in the 17th Division. Of the 206 voters there, 155 are registered Democrats. And, he said, many are elderly, enjoy voting in their own building, and have difficulty traveling off-site to vote. 

Duncan said he’s tried unsuccessfully to convince Eagle Rock Properties, the management company, to reopen on-site polling, and even called “the president of the company personally, Adam Seelig.”

The Local’s calls and emails to Eagle Rock Properties have not been answered. 

Party leaders on both sides are now calling on the building’s management to re-instate the building as a polling site, and City Commissioners voted unanimously to move polling back to Chestnut Hill Tower.

“It doesn't matter who people are voting for, we want to make sure that they have equal access to the polls,” State Rep. Tarik Khan, a Democrat, told the Local.

Ninth Ward Republican Leader Mark Umansky agreed. “We recognize the concerns of both residents and building management. While we cannot fully comment without a more in-depth look into the reasons for the management's opposition, we will support any solution that ensures fair and accessible voting for all in the community,” he said. 

With time running out, City Commissioners voted last week to move the polling location back to Friends Meetinghouse until they get an agreement with Chestnut Hill Tower management. Duncan is organizing volunteers to drive residents from the Tower to Friends Meetinghouse on Nov. 5. 

“For voters, and for us as a political party, we have to make an effort to try to figure out how to help people get over to that site, so we're reaching out to line up some folks to help drive people over to the site if we have to do that,” Duncan said. “With it being in the towers, residents in the towers can just take the elevator down and vote at the polling site. If it's moved back over to the Friends Meetinghouse, some of them have had difficulty getting down there.”

When the city consolidated voting locations, Friends Meeting House had challenges taking on the increase in voters who previously voted at Chestnut Hill Tower, Duncan said.

“It required a special setup to accommodate the extra routers for the electronic books that are used to check people in,” Duncan said. “cramming everybody into one room in the middle of election day was disruptive.” 

Sidney Evans, a resident of Chestnut Hill Tower and 17th Ward Committee Member, wrote a letter to property manager Jionni Lewis calling the polling location a “valued amenity for registered voters from both parties living here.” 

“We have been unable to confirm permission to use the building as a polling place for the upcoming November election. This presents a significant setback for our efforts to facilitate voter education and will likely disenfranchise many registered voters living in the Building,” the letter read.

In addition, Evans wrote, “This location is currently listed on the City’s voter website and print material as the designated polling location for the 17th Division. If we change locations at this point, there is not enough time to inform all of the voters, or update polling place listings.” 

Philadelphia City Commissioners Chairman Omar Sabir wrote a similar letter to Adam Seelig, head of the building’s management company. 

“The Chestnut Hill Tower Apartments remains listed as the designated polling place for the 17th Division across official platforms, including our website and in mailings to voters. Changing the location at this stage would not only disrupt the voting process but also risk disenfranchising voters who rely on this site,” wrote Sabir in his letter. “In light of these challenges, I respectfully request that you reconsider the decision and allow the November 5, 2024, election to proceed at Chestnut Hill Tower Apartments. The building has served as a safe, reliable, and accessible location for voters, and we would greatly appreciate your continued partnership in ensuring the integrity and convenience of the voting process.” 

Duncan also noted that Eagle Rock’s refusal seems contrary to its public messaging, in which company leadership states that the firm is “proud to work with and sponsor local organizations in our Communities to provide needed assistance to our neighborhoods!”

Duncan also said he plans to notify all registered voters in the 17th Division that they should vote at the Friends Meetinghouse this cycle but will continue to push for a Chestnut Hill Tower polling location in future elections.

“The company brags about its community spiritedness on their website,” Duncan said. “This is kind of an essential of civic engagement, allowing your residents to be able to vote easily.”