Philadelphia, PA – The Committee of Seventy released the following statement regarding voter turnout in the 2025 primary election. It can be attributed to Lauren Cristella, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy. 

“About 17% of registered voters in Philadelphia turned out for Tuesday’s primary. That should alarm all of us.

We cannot dismiss this as ‘just another low-turnout election’ or chalk it up to the ‘Philly Shrug.’ Turnout this low goes well beyond that kind of reasoning, and that kind of thinking lets a broken system off the hook. Low turnout like this is a warning sign. It means too many of our neighbors feel disengaged, disillusioned, or disconnected from the process.

We all have a role to play in changing that.

We must ask ourselves: How do we make voting more accessible? How do we better inform and engage voters not just during presidential elections, but in every race that shapes our communities?

At the Committee of Seventy, we’ve led, and will continue to lead, efforts for citizens to connect to and understand government in meaningful ways. From championing election reforms, to expanding access to nonpartisan voter information through our Interactive Voter Guide and How Philly Works programming, we’ve worked to strengthen democracy at every level. And by investing in the next generation of voters, we’re ensuring that future civic engagement is informed, inclusive, and strong. 

The Committee of Seventy has and will continue to build a more informed, energized electorate – one that understands the power of their vote in every election. But our efforts alone will not solve this persistent threat to our democracy. 

Tuesday’s primary should be a wake-up call. Every elected official, civic leader, and engaged citizen should come together to confront the hard truth: our institutions are failing to inspire voter participation. It’s time for honest conversations and bold action to reverse the decline in turnout and rebuild trust in our democracy. While each of us can work to inspire our communities to vote, we must also demand structural change from Harrisburg to increase voter access – from true early voting to opening primaries to unaffiliated voters and selecting judges based on merit rather than electing them. 

Democracy demands more of us. Philadelphia deserves more from us. Let’s rise to meet that challenge.”