Officials Worry SEPTA Strike Could Disrupt Election
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — Officials are concerned that the SEPTA strike could keep some Philadelphia residents from voting.
The strike halts bus, trolley and subway lines in Philadelphia but not commuter rail lines or suburban transit. The city system's daily weekday ridership is about 900,000 trips. Nearly 60,000 public, private and charter school students use it to get to and from school.
"This is really going to be a tough situation for me because I don't have no other means of transportation," said Jessica Eisenhower of South Philadelphia.
"I just hope that they can figure everything out and this doesn't happen."
Union leaders say the biggest points of contention center around wages, pensions and healthcare costs. SEPTA riders who spoke to CBS3 were sympathetic.
"I understand, I'm a state worker myself, so I understand if they don't work it out, they have to do what they have to do," said Kelly Hendryx, of Levittown.
Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke says voters could be disenfranchised if their Nov. 8 commutes are lengthened by a strike.
Pennsylvania has tighter absentee ballot rules than many other states and no early voting.
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