Philly's Ballot BoxPhilly's Ballot Box

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Denied the right to vote on whether they want Casinos in their neighborhoods, Philadelphians build their own parallel election system in four weeks. Secure online and phone balloting and voting stations across the city included. 

Philly's Ballot BoxA campaign of Casino Free Philadelphia, Philly's Ballot Box was a citizen-run election created after the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and two casino companies sued Philadelphia to remove a question concerning a 1,500-foot buffer zone around proposed casino sites. After the state supreme court overruled the city's right to include the buffer zone question (ballots had already been printed, so stickers reading "Removed by Court Order" were placed over the question), Casino Free organized its own voting process with ballot boxes at precincts across the city and secure online and phone voting.

Philly's Ballot BoxThe election system, designed by Action Mill members and Casino Free volunteers, included instant voter-registration checks, independent observers, and a live broadcast of the paper ballot count. The online voting system, programmed by Aaron Kreider, was released as an open-source application following the election.

Over 13,000 people participated in the vote, which overwhelmingly supported a buffer zone between Casinos and residential areas in Philadelphia. Casino Free Philadelphia used Philly's Ballot Box to increase pressure on mayoral candidates and the casino industry and publicize Philadelphians' desire to keep casinos away from their homes. Three years after Casino Free was founded, no casinos have been built in Philadelphia.

Action Mill members Jethro Heiko, Meredith Warner, Jeremy Beaudry and Nick Jehlen worked on the Philly's Ballot Box campaign.