In early 2024, New Voices conducted a voter apathy study to understand why Black folx, young people, and historically marginalized communities feel disconnected from the electoral process. Rather than simply asking how to get people to vote, we asked a deeper question: why doesn’t voting always feel worth it in the first place?

Our findings revealed that voter apathy is not rooted in indifference, but in distrust and disillusionment. Many participants shared that they feel ignored by political leaders, that promises go unfulfilled, and that voting has not translated into meaningful change in their daily lives. Despite this, the majority still intend to vote, though often without confidence in the system.

Key themes included:

- Disillusionment with leadership: Many see politics as unresponsive to community needs.

- Disconnect between issues and voting: Voters want clear links between policies and their lived experiences, such as maternal health, economic justice, and safety.

- Desire for year-round engagement: Communities want consistent, relational organizing. Not just election-time outreach.

We conducted this study because traditional voter engagement strategies often fail to speak to the realities of Black communities. By using a Reproductive Justice framework, we connect civic participation to deeply personal issues like health, safety, and autonomy. Showing that voting is part of a larger strategy for building community power.

This work is important to us because voter apathy is often misunderstood. It is not that people don’t care, but that they demand accountability, transparency, and long-term investment. Addressing voter suppression and apathy requires moving beyond turnout and building sustainable pathways for trust, education, and shared power alongside the people who need it the most.

Polling Place Changes & Closures: In Philadelphia, polling locations in North & West Philly are often relocated last-minute, leading to confusion and long lines. In Pittsburgh, consolidations in Black neighborhoods like the Hill District force voters to travel farther.

Strict ID Laws & Confusion: PA’s strict voter ID law was struck down in 2014, but misinformation persists. many Pennsylvania voters are still told they need a photo ID.

 Long Lines & Under-Resourced Precincts: Majority-Black districts in both cities often get fewer machines and poll workers, causing multi-hour waits.

Mail-In Ballot Barriers: In Philadelphia, thousands of ballots were tossed in 2024 for being“naked ballots”, meaning they were missing the required secrecy envelope. In Pittsburgh, many ballots were rejected for missing handwritten dates.

Intimidation & Aggressive Poll Watching: Both cities see challengers concentrated in Black precincts where intimidating and aggressive "poll watchers" will stalk polling locations and dissuade marginalized groups from going in to vote. Past tactics include uniformed officers near PHL polling sites.

Voter Roll Purges & Eligibility Confusion: Voter purges are often done without informing the voter and disproportionately affect renters, students, and low-income residents. Many formerly incarcerated voters in PA wrongly believe they cannot vote.

If your SNAP or EBT benefits have been paused due to the federal shutdown,
here are local programs, food banks, and community fridges offering support across Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh)

📍 Philadelphia, PA

Share Food Program
Monthly food boxes for seniors (60+).
Visit sharefoodprogram.org/our-programs/food-for-seniors

Family Support Circle
2059 Chelten Avenue
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month

Helping Hands
4671 Paul Street
Mondays, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

MAP Holistic CDC
1510 W. Stiles Street
Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

New Disciples Ministries
6301 Kingsessing Avenue
2nd & 4th Saturday of the month
9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

🥕 Community Fridges

The People’s Fridge
125 S. 52nd Street

Mt. Airy Community Fridge & Pantry
6900 Stenton Avenue

Coral Street Fridge
4134 Lancaster Avenue

Germantown Community Fridge
20 W. Armat Street & 19 E. High Street

South Philly Community Fridges
1901 S. 9th Street
1149 S. 9th Street
516 Wolf Street
840 Ellsworth Street

Mama-Tee Community Fridge
635 W. Girard Avenue
2400 Carol Street
915 Spring Garden Street
5524 Haverford Avenue
234 Winona Street

🔗 Find 60+ more free food sites at: public.flourish.studio/visualisation/25857050
📞 Call 2-1-1 for food and housing support.

----------

📍 Pittsburgh, PA

East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM)
6140 Station Street, 15206
Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:30–11:30 a.m.

St. Mary Magdalene Parish Food Pantry
7321 Frankstown Avenue, 15208 2
2nd & 4th Wednesdays
9–11 a.m.

Wilkinsburg Mobile Food Pantry (Community Forge)
Community Forge Playground,
1256 Franklin Avenue, 15221
Wednesdays & Fridays
9 a.m.–1 p.m.

South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM)
5301 Park Avenue, 15102
Tuesdays & Thursdays
10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Brashear Association Food Pantry
2005 Sarah Street,  15203
2nd & 4th Thursdays
10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Northside Common Ministries Food Pantry
1601 Brighton Road, 15212
Tuesday–Thursdays
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

North Hills Christian Church Family Food Distribution
778 Thompson Run Road, Glenshaw
Mondays
5–6 p.m.

Brentwood Presbyterian Church Food Pantry
3725 Brownsville Road, 15227
3rd Saturdays
9–11 a.m.

🔗 Visit pittsburghfoodbank.org/gethelp for a full county-wide map.
📞 Call 2-1-1 for United Way’s 24/7 resource line (food, housing, utilities)

----------

💜 Take Action 💜
‍Call your representatives and demand Congress restore SNAP funding.
Share verified info so families know where to get help.
Support local orgs fighting for food justice and economic equity.
Keep showing up — at the polls, in your community, and for your neighbors.
Restock a community fridge or host a meal share.