Hi supporters, 

4,500 Penn students, employees, and alumni, including you, have called on the Administration to take decisive action to provide sufficient time and support for Penn staff to vote on Election Day. 

Time is running out. There’s only 1 business day left.

But we haven’t heard anything from Penn, so we’ve run out of options. 

That’s why we need your help.

While we appreciate the resolution passed by Penn providing guidance for students and staff who wish to engage in election-related activities on Election Day, we stand strong in our conviction that this is simply not enough to protect the Penn community’s fundamental right to vote. In the words of one of our supporters, “There should be no barriers preventing someone from voting, least of all their job.” Penn’s action or lack thereof within the next 72 hours has the power to affect up to 44,000 votes.

With one work day left, it’s all hands on deck to make our voices heard. 

We ask you to contact President Amy Gutmann at president@upenn.edu and/or 215-898-7221 on behalf of the cause. To make this really easy, we’ve created a simple template below, which you can personalize and send.

To Penn employees reading this: it’s particularly important that Penn hear from you.

Penn has made similar last-minute decisions before: in the last 3 years they’ve created last minute shutdowns for snow days and sports victories. There is still hope. Thank you for your support. 

Template: 

Hello members of the Penn Administration,

I am a [insert affiliation, ex: Penn C’21, Penn staff member]. 

I believe it’s important that employees be granted official time off to vote on election day - and that the university should go further than issuing informal guidelines - because [INSERT YOUR REASON, e.g. “long lines,” or “other schools are doing this,” or “everyone’s vote should be counted,” or “exceptional circumstances due to COVID”].

In our everyday lives, laws and regulations, not guidelines, are created to protect our most sacred rights. 

As Election Day provides an opportunity for each and every citizen to practice their civic duty, it is up to Penn not only as a leading global institution but the largest private employer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s most populous city, to uphold voting rights by providing paid time off, across all departments, for every staff member. In taking this action, Penn would reflect its conviction and commitment to civic engagement at this critical point in American history and follow suit with numerous peer institutions. 

Please take decisive action now. 

Sincerely, 

[your name and Penn affiliation]