With Election Day coming up in less than a month, voters in Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County can begin turning their ballots in early.
Residents have several weeks to return their mail-in ballots through the postal service. And for those who want to drop their ballots off in person, there are numerous locations throughout the county that are accepting completed ballots.
Here's where they're located and when they're open.
When is 2026 early voting in Allegheny County?
Voters with absentee or mail-in ballots can mail in their ballots ahead of the election, or drop their ballots off at satellite election offices on select dates between Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Sunday, Oct. 25, according to the county. Any Allegheny voter can vote at any satellite location. There will be additional ballot-only
return locations open from Friday, Oct. 30 through Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Satellite voting locations offer more comprehensive services, allowing voters to apply for, receive, vote and return their mail-in and absentee ballots, while return sites function solely as a place to collect completed ballots.
Where is my polling location in Allegheny County?
You can find your polling place in Allegheny County through the Pennsylvania State Department here, but if you're dropping off your ballot early, it can be dropped off at any satellite election office or ballot-only return location.
On certain days in October, satellite voting locations can found at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Auditorium, CCAC Homewood-Brushton Center, North Park Ice Rink, South Park Ice Rink and County Office Building. To see when the location closest to you is open, check Allegheny County's website here.
Ballot return sites will open the weekend before the election and remain open through Election Day. Hours vary by day and can be viewed at Allegheny County's website. These sites will be accepting completed ballots:
- Allegheny County Emergency Services Building
- Avalon Public Library
- Boyce Park Four Seasons Lodge
- Carnegie Library Lawrenceville
- Carnegie Library Squirrel Hill
- CCAC Center for Education, Innovation and Training
- CCAC Homewood-Brushton Center
- Community Library of Allegheny Valley
- Dormont Pool
- Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank
- North Park Ice Rink
- South Park Ice Rink
- County Office Building
When are mail-in and absentee ballots due in Allegheny County?
Mail-in and absentee ballots are due to the county by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
What's the deadline to register for mail-in voting in Allegheny County?
You still have time to register to vote by mail — the deadline to apply for a 2026 midterm election mail-in ballot in Allegheny County is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
How do I apply for a mail-in ballot in Allegheny County?
You can apply online, by mail or in person. Allegheny County's application can be found online here.
What documents do I need when I apply for a mail-in ballot?
When you apply for your mail-in ballot, you'll need your Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT ID number, or the last four digits of your social security number.
If you don't have these forms of identification, you should have another form of photo identification such as a U.S. passport, U.S. Military ID, photo employee identification issued by any level of government, photo employee identification issued by an accredited state public or private higher education institution, or a photo identification issued by a Pennsylvania care facility.
How to vote if you'll be out of town on Election Day
You can request an absentee ballot ahead of time if you know you'll be out of Allegheny County on Election Day. Submit the application by 5 p.m. on Oct. 27.
If there's a last-minute emergency that requires you to be out of the county or an unexpected illness or disability, you can request an emergency absentee ballot after 5 p.m. on Oct. 27.
The application form is available online on the Pennsylvania Department of State's website and can be submitted to Allegheny County Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day, the same time absentee ballots are also due.
Ballot options, deadlines for voters with disabilities
Disabled voters who utilize screen readers and assistive devices may be eligible to receive an accessible remote ballot.
To get an accessible remote ballot, an individual must be a registered Pennsylvania voter, apply for a mail or absentee ballot, and submit a request for an accessible remote ballot online, through the mail or via email.
When Allegheny County Elections has processed the request, staff will send out a packet of accessible voting material, including a return envelope and a secrecy envelope, as well as an email with instructions for how to access the ballot.
Completed ballots must be received by Allegheny County Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Can a family member or friend drop off my Pennsylvania ballot for me?
Under state law, voters must return their own ballots, though there's an exception for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing through the "Authorize a Designated Agent Form" to deliver their ballot. That form can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of State's website.
Can I see if my Pennsylvania ballot was accepted and counted?
The status of your ballot can be tracked online at the Pennsylvania Department of State's website. Additionally, if you provide your email address to Allegheny County Elections when you register to vote or apply for a mail ballot, you may receive an email when your returned ballot is received, as well as other information about its status.
Check your Pennsylvania voter registration status
If you're not sure what your voter registration status in Pennsylvania is, you can check it online here.
What is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania?
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: PA early voting starts soon. Ballot drop off locations in Allegheny
