Allegheny County is rolling out ten staffed places to hand in mail-in ballots or fill them out on the spot, giving voters more in-person options ahead of the May 19 primary after the county’s Board of Elections signed off on the plan Friday. The mix of ballot-return locations and satellite voting offices is designed so some residents can walk in, request a ballot, complete it, and turn it in during a single trip.
According to WESA, the satellite offices will be open Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The staffed ballot-return sites will be available Friday, May 15, and Monday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with weekend hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday the week before the election.
Where and when to drop off or vote in person
The County Office Building in downtown Pittsburgh will accept mail-in ballots during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and it will also be open on Election Day during normal polling hours, according to Allegheny County. That same lobby serves as an over-the-counter voting site where, while supplies last, voters can request, complete, and return a mail ballot in one visit.
County officials have designated satellite offices at Community College of Allegheny County–Homewood, North Park Ice Rink, and South Park Ice Rink. Staffed ballot-return sites are spread around the county and include community partners such as the Carnegie Library in Squirrel Hill, Dormont Pool, and the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. Election staff detailed the full lineup of locations and hours in materials approved by the Board of Elections this week, per WESA.
Deadlines and rules to know
Voters are required to return their own completed mail ballot, unless they fill out an authorization form to submit a ballot for someone who is physically unable to do so. Several key dates are coming fast: the last day to register is May 4, the deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on May 12, and completed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, May 19, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. The state site also walks voters through checking registration status and applying for a ballot.
County leaders are stressing that these are staffed return locations, not unattended drop boxes, and that ballots are placed directly into the custody of elections workers to protect the chain of custody while expanding access. Voters who need language help or other accommodations are encouraged to contact the elections office beforehand so staff can be ready to assist.
For the full, up-to-date list of sites, hours, and any last-minute adjustments, voters can check the county’s elections page or call the Elections Division at 412-350-4500. With registration and mail-in ballot deadlines approaching, officials urge residents to decide how they plan to vote well before May 12.
