Allegheny County approves ballot return sites, over-the-counter voting locations, ahead of May primary

Allegheny County voters who want to use a mail-in ballot in the May 19 primary will once again have multiple options for turning it in early.

While voters can always send in their ballots by mail, the county’s Board of Elections voted unanimously Friday to once again offer two early return methods: satellite centers and ballot return locations.

Ballot-return sites offer a place for voters who have completed a mail-in ballot to return it without relying on the mail. There will be 10 such staffed locations, open in the final few days before the election, after the deadline to request a mail-in ballot has passed. These are not unattended drop boxes: Voters will hand their ballots directly to a county elections employee at each site.

The county will also operate four satellite voting locations around the county. Voters at each site can apply for, complete and cast their ballot in one visit – an “over the counter” approach that effectively acts as early voting – or they can take the ballot home. They can also turn in completed mail-in ballots they had sent to them separately.


https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2026-03-13/allegheny-county-primary-election-mail-in-ballot-returns-voting