Mail-in ballots expected to drive high turnout in Allegheny, Westmoreland

Allegheny County is on track to see high voter turnout as mail-in and absentee ballot applications for the June 2 primary exceeded expectations.

The county has processed more than 280,000 ballot applications, with a little fewer than 5,000 applications coming in just before the deadline Tuesday, said Elections Division Manager David Voye.

If all applicants return ballots, that would equate to voter turnout of about 36%. Allegheny County has 775,201 registered, eligible voters. Voye previously projected 22% turnout for the primary.

The Elections Division based this year’s predicted turnout on the 2012 presidential primary, when President Obama was seeking reelection.

The 2008 and 2016 primaries, which had deeper candidate fields with no incumbents, each drew about 40% voter turnout, Voye said.

The final few hundred ballots were mailed out Wednesday, and the department hopes all voters will receive their ballots by Friday, Voye said.

All completed mail-in and absentee ballots must be returned to the Elections Division by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

About 86,000 completed ballots have been returned so far, Voye said.

Westmoreland County sent out 47,635 mail-in ballots. As of Wednesday, 28,845 had been returned.

Voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary could reach 40% to 45%, a figure that mirrors the turnout for the 2016 presidential primary, said Elections Bureau Director Beth Lechman.

She expects about 20% to 25% of the county’s registered voters to vote in person.

Ballots can be mailed in or dropped off in person at the courthouse by Tuesday’s deadline. A drop-off box has been placed in the entry way in the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg.

“If someone requested a mail-in ballot and does not return it, their only option is to vote provisionally at the polls,” Lechman said.

Any Allegheny County residents concerned their ballot will not arrive in time by mail can drop it off in person at the Elections Division office in the County Office Building, 542 Forbes Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh. Located on the sixth floor, the office will accept ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday.

A counter in the lobby of the County Office Building will be staffed with Elections Division employees to accept ballots the following days:

• Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters may only drop off their own ballot. Multiple ballots will not be accepted.

People still have the option of voting in person Tuesday.

Polling places have been consolidated because there are fewer available poll workers. Voters should consult the postcard sent to their house and the following list to see where their polling place has been moved to:

With the exception of Pittsburgh, each municipality will have one polling place. Signs will be posted at old polling places to direct voters to the new locations.

Voters will be asked to follow social distancing guidelines by keeping six feet away from others and wearing a mask covering their nose and mouth. Anyone who shows up without a mask will be offered one but will not be barred from voting if they refuse.

Pens will be available to mark the paper ballots, but voters also may bring their own. Blue ink is preferred.

Staff writer Rich Cholodofsky contributed to this report.