Election day and the weather: Will the sun up the turnout?

Kenney election day
Mark Dent

As of 1 p.m. today, the temperature was about 72 degrees. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and in the sun it felt downright summery.

So will it be good for voting? Probably not.

As voter turnout has declined over the last few city elections, the weather has mostly been like today’s. Here are the highest recorded temperatures from the November city elections since 1999.

  • 2015: 72 (as of 1 p.m.)
  • 2011: 72
  • 2007: 54 (rain)
  • 2003: 70
  • 1999: 68 (rain)

Voter turnout in 1999 was 45 percent and in 2003 it was 50 percent. Philly really started to experience a plunge in 2007, when turnout was about 27 percent. 2011 featured 20 percent turnout.

And for the record, it was 83 this May during the primary election. About 27 percent of registered voters came out to vote.

 

 

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