Sure, there were plenty of empty chairs. But the 50-plus people who came out Thursday night to an elections forum at Esperanza College had come for a good reason: to talk about the importance of voting in underserved communities.

Students at the college, a branch of Eastern University located on the N. 5th Street corridor in Hunting Park, asked questions of three panelists: Marian Schneider, the deputy secretary of state for elections and administration under Gov. Tom Wolf; Lisa Deeley, one of three city commissioners in Philadelphia; and Rev. Danny Cortés, Esperanza's chief of staff. 

Am I eligable to vote in Pennsylvania? (See here.) What is the deadline to register to vote? (March 28, 2016, until midnight.) What's a cuacus, and do we have one in Pennsylvania?  (Some states have caucuses, but we have a primary election.) How can I learn from watching a debate? ("Follow more than one media outlet," the panelists suggested.) How can handicapped people get to the polling place on election day? (Another FAQ.) Are voter education available material available in Spanish? Vietnamese? (Spanish is widely available, and Vietnamese has been identified as a "priority language" by Gov. Wolf's cabinet.)

And last but far from least: Why should I vote?

This question was repeated in various ways two or three times throughout the Q&A session. Cortés didn't pull his punches. He spoke of Latino legislators who overcame steep odds to get elected and bring much-needed resources to "el barrio" of North Philadelphia. He spoke of the effort it took just to bring 400 trash cans in the neighborhood.

"It's not about staying home, it's about getting out there and raising your voice," Cortés said. "You have to do a little work to be a good citizen."

Schneider emphasized the importance of voting in every election, especially for local offices like City Council.

"The presidential election gets a lot of attention, but it's truly those odd-year elections that are the most meaningful. Those are the quality of life elections," she said. "They're the ones that are going to decide whether or not you get trash cans in your neighborhood."

Several registratuib booths were set up at the college for attendees to register to vote after the Q&A panel. The event was hosted by Esperanza College, Ceiba and Committee of 70.