Over-the-counter voting began Monday in Allegheny County and will continue on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of the County Office Building at Forbes Avenue and Ross Street in downtown Pittsburgh.It will continue until the Oct. 29 deadline to request a mail-in ballot.It's a way to get, fill out and return your mail ballot in person, all in one go."I'm voting early because I'm about to leave out of the country, and I feel that it is important that we do vote. I mean, there's so much that's at stake right now," said Jonathan Lane of Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood, who voted over the counter at the site.Whether online or in person, if you're not yet registered to vote you can do so until Oct. 21. If you want to vote by mail, the deadline for requesting a mail ballot is Oct. 29."It is never too early to make a plan to vote. So, whether you like to vote in person in advance, like one of our satellite offices or here downtown, (or) if you prefer to vote in person on Election Day, make a plan," said Abigail Gardner, Allegheny County communications director. "(While) the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Oct. 21, that's about two weeks before Election Day," Gardner said. "We really encourage everyone to do it as fast as possible. Do not wait till the deadline. Do it today. Go online, come down here and do it in person. It takes time to process all these registrations."Lena Henderson, the county's chief public defender, has worked in the County Office Building for years, but voting there Monday was new for her."I never knew that it would be so easy. One of my colleagues said I could vote today. I leaned over the counter, and I did it," Henderson said."It took five minutes, if that much. I filled out the top of a form that basically asked the name, address, email, and you get your ballot. They give you instructions on how to place your ballot into the secret envelope, and then a larger envelope. You go back to the desk, hand your ballot in, and they give you a little sticker," Henderson said.She remembers back when what is now serving as a voting counter was once a lunch counter in the lobby of the building."Yes, you could get a hot dog from where you (can now) lean over and vote. You could get a hot dog, something to drink, food, yes," Henderson said.There were no lines at the counter Monday, but Gardner says to allow time if you visit."If you are here at the County Office Building, or later you visit one of our satellite elections offices, you can register to vote, request a mail-in ballot and vote that ballot all on the spot," Gardner said.People voting over the counter were offered an "I voted" sticker when they turned in their ballot. Lane claimed his and wore it as he left the location."Yes, because I want to let people know that I voted today and I'm glad that I did," Lane said. "It is important that we get out here and vote. We're all citizens, taxpayers and we want the right thing."Allegheny County will also have over-the-counter voting at several satellite election office locations on select days in October:Oct. 15, 16 and 17 at Soldiers and Sailors in Oakland The weekends of Oct. 19-20 and 26-27 in North Park, South Park and CCAC HomewoodAt those satellite offices on those dates, you can register to vote, request a mail-in ballot (up until the Oct. 29 deadline), complete your mail-in ballot and return it to county staff on the site.Over-the-counter voting has been available for the last several elections at the County Office Building in the weeks before Election Day.Allegheny County will also have ballot return sites open for the seven days before Election Day, including the weekend of Nov. 2 and 3, and Monday, Nov. 4.Details on ballot return and satellite voting sites are posted on the Allegheny County website at this link.
Over-the-counter voting began Monday in Allegheny County and will continue on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of the County Office Building at Forbes Avenue and Ross Street in downtown Pittsburgh.
It will continue until the Oct. 29 deadline to request a mail-in ballot.
It's a way to get, fill out and return your mail ballot in person, all in one go.
"I'm voting early because I'm about to leave out of the country, and I feel that it is important that we do vote. I mean, there's so much that's at stake right now," said Jonathan Lane of Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood, who voted over the counter at the site.
Whether online or in person, if you're not yet registered to vote you can do so until Oct. 21. If you want to vote by mail, the deadline for requesting a mail ballot is Oct. 29.
"It is never too early to make a plan to vote. So, whether you like to vote in person in advance, like one of our satellite offices or here downtown, (or) if you prefer to vote in person on Election Day, make a plan," said Abigail Gardner, Allegheny County communications director. "(While) the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Oct. 21, that's about two weeks before Election Day," Gardner said. "We really encourage everyone to do it as fast as possible. Do not wait till the deadline. Do it today. Go online, come down here and do it in person. It takes time to process all these registrations."
Lena Henderson, the county's chief public defender, has worked in the County Office Building for years, but voting there Monday was new for her.
"I never knew that it would be so easy. One of my colleagues said I could vote today. I leaned over the counter, and I did it," Henderson said.
"It took five minutes, if that much. I filled out the top of a form that basically asked the name, address, email, and you get your ballot. They give you instructions on how to place your ballot into the secret envelope, and then a larger envelope. You go back to the desk, hand your ballot in, and they give you a little sticker," Henderson said.
She remembers back when what is now serving as a voting counter was once a lunch counter in the lobby of the building.
"Yes, you could get a hot dog from where you (can now) lean over and vote. You could get a hot dog, something to drink, food, yes," Henderson said.
There were no lines at the counter Monday, but Gardner says to allow time if you visit.
"If you are here at the County Office Building, or later you visit one of our satellite elections offices, you can register to vote, request a mail-in ballot and vote that ballot all on the spot," Gardner said.
People voting over the counter were offered an "I voted" sticker when they turned in their ballot. Lane claimed his and wore it as he left the location.
"Yes, because I want to let people know that I voted today and I'm glad that I did," Lane said. "It is important that we get out here and vote. We're all citizens, taxpayers and we want the right thing."
Allegheny County will also have over-the-counter voting at several satellite election office locations on select days in October:
Oct. 15, 16 and 17 at Soldiers and Sailors in Oakland The weekends of Oct. 19-20 and 26-27 in North Park, South Park and CCAC HomewoodAt those satellite offices on those dates, you can register to vote, request a mail-in ballot (up until the Oct. 29 deadline), complete your mail-in ballot and return it to county staff on the site.
Over-the-counter voting has been available for the last several elections at the County Office Building in the weeks before Election Day.
Allegheny County will also have ballot return sites open for the seven days before Election Day, including the weekend of Nov. 2 and 3, and Monday, Nov. 4.
Details on ballot return and satellite voting sites are posted on the Allegheny County website at this link .
