Allegheny County Mail-In, Absentee Ballots: What To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA —Mail-in and absentee ballot packets began to go out to Allegheny County voters over the weekend. By midweek, more than 100,000 ballots will have been delivered to the post office for mailing, according to the county elections division.

With approved ballots going out, over-the-counter voting at the Elections Division office at 542 Forbes Avenue, Room 601, Downtown, is now also available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Over-the-counter voting entails a voter going to the counter in the elections division and applying in-person for a mail-in or absentee ballot. The application is the same as the one found online and can be completed in advance of going to the County Office Building. Once the application is completed and submitted, the application will be processed using the SURE system to ensure the voter is registered to vote, hasn’t already applied for a ballot, or has any other barriers to voting.

Once reviewed and approved, the ballot for that person’s municipality, ward and precinct will be provided to the voter along with a security and declaration envelope, and instructions for voting. Privacy screens will be set up on the counter to allow the voter to complete their ballot in secret.

Once voted, the ballot is folded and placed in a security envelope which is then placed inside of a second envelope with the voter’s declaration printed on the back. The voter will complete and sign the declaration before returning the envelope to Elections staff.

The voter’s record will be updated to show that the individual’s ballot has been returned. Voted ballots are secured within the elections division before being taken to a warehouse where they are stored in a locked room which is also under camera surveillance. They will remain there until Election Day, when ballots may begin to be opened and counted.

The division continues to process online and paper applications with same day turnaround. Applications for mail-in or absentee ballots must be received by the Elections Division by 5 p.m. on May 11. Voters can apply now by clicking on this link.