Allegheny County Executive lauds poll workers in advance of election

More than 6,900 poll workers will be spread out over the 900 polling locations in Allegheny County for the general election on Nov. 5

Twenty-plus of the polling locations are in communities that make up North Allegheny School District.

The Allegheny County Board of Elections gave an update on Oct. 22, during which County Executive Sara Innamorato reminded everyone about the service of poll workers.

“They deserve our dignity and respect and, in turn, they will treat you all with dignity and respect. And I think we can do a great job of having an election that is hopefully positive,” said Innamorato.

According to county communications director Abigail Gardner, the county currently has enough poll workers for Election Day. Each receives a stipend of $150 to $175 per day.

Paid county employees of the Elections Department are also working seven days a week on pre-Election Day duties

As of Oct. 22, there were 943,000 registered voters in Allegheny County, which is up 1,000 from 2020, said David Voye, manager of the Divisions of Elections.

There were 228,000 mail-in ballot applications requested and mailed as of Oct. 22. Out of the 142,000 returned, 913 had to be sent back to the voter because of missing dates, signatures or other incorrect details. About 50% came back properly filled out.

The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 21, and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot with a completed application is 5 p.m. Oct. 29.

Deadline to return a completed mail-in or absentee ballot is 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Ballot returns can be done at various locations within the county, including the North Park Ice Rink, 1200 Pearce Mill Road, where completed ballots can be dropped off from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31, Nov. 1, and Nov. 4, or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3. A full list of drop-off locations can be found at www.alleghenycounty.us.

Mail-in ballots are not allowed to be opened and counted until Election Day, according to the Allegheny County website. Those ballots are kept secure at the county elections warehouse, where there’s surveillance every day until Election Day.

On that day, mail-in ballots are unlocked from a secure area and checked again for date and signature, according to the county website.

Ballots are scanned so they can be tabulated. Once polls close at 8 p.m., all tabulated results will begin to be displayed on the Allegheny County website.

“We do have to commit to continuous ballot counting, pre-canvassing and canvassing once we start,” Voye said. “We will be putting out notifications as the day moves on during Election Day to keep everyone updated.”

Election services in Allegheny County cost about $9.5 million, per discussion during the Board of Elections meeting. The state funded approximately $4.7 million to the county for this year’s expenses.

“The election is something we will administer to the people of Allegheny County and at a significant cost. But we are doing everything that we can to make sure that we run safe secure and accessible elections,” Innamorato said.

Candidates can appoint two poll watchers for each election district where that candidate appears on the ballot. But only one poll watcher may be present in the polling place at one time for each candidate, according to www.pa.gov. Poll workers must be identified and must receive official county credentials in advance.

State law makes it illegal for police officers to be within 100 feet of a polling location, unless they are voting or called there on official business, according to Lt. Jeff Basl of McCandless police.

While its officers will not be detailed to specific polling locations, members of the Northern Regional Police Department will safely increase their patrols where allowed near polling locations during Election Day. Otherwise, it’s business as usual, said NRPD Chief Bryan DeWick.

Several North Allegheny schools are being used for polling and will be closed. Places like Marshall’s municipal building will be used as a polling place, and its staff will work remotely that day, said township manager Julie Bastianini.

For those unsure of their voting district, visit the county’s candidates and municipality resources tab at www.allegheny county.us.