Pre-Election Day Voting Options
Voters may only return their own ballot unless they have completed an authorization form to return a ballot on behalf of someone who physically is unable to do so. For individuals requiring assistance in voting or returning a ballot, contact the Elections Division at 412-350-4500.
Voting Options Definitions
Over-the-Counter Voting
Over-the-counter voting is mail-in voting minus the mail. A registered voter can visit the County Office Building, (or a satellite office, if available) and apply for, request, complete, and submit a mail-in ballot in the same visit. Over-the-counter voting is also referred to as "in-person absentee" voting and “on-demand mail ballot voting.” Over-the-counter voting is required by Act 77, which introduced mail-in balloting to Pennsylvania.
Satellite Election Office
A smaller, temporary election office located away from the main one where voters can register, apply for a ballot, vote and return ballots. A satellite office is a location detached from the primary election office that generally offers a narrower range of services than the main office.
Ballot Return Sites
Ballot return sites are staffed locations, some temporary and some in the elections office, where registered voters who have completed a mail-in or absentee ballot can return the ballot in person, directly to a county employee. The ballot is then held in a secure location until Election Day, when it will be opened and counted.
Once the deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot has passed, voters cannot request a ballot on-site and may only return a completed ballot.
Satellite Voting Offices
At satellite locations, voters may register (through the state deadline of October 19, 2026) apply for, receive, vote, and return their mail-in and absentee ballots. Any Allegheny County voter is eligible to vote at any satellite location. After the voter registration deadline (October 19, 2026) and the mail-in ballot application deadline (October 27, 2026) have passed, voters may still return a completed ballot at the ballot return locations.
Voters wishing to apply for emergency voting must come to the County Office Building to make a request after those dates.
Over the Counter Voting and Ballot Return Schedules
| Date |
Time |
Locations |
Wednesday,
October 7, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
|
Thursday,
October 8, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Saturday,
October 17, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
|
Sunday,
October 18, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Saturday,
October 24, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Sunday,
October 25, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Election Services at the County Office Building
The County Office Building offers the greatest number of in-person opportunities to register, vote, and return ballots. Voters returning ballots in the last week before the election, beginning October 26, 2026, will be allowed to park briefly in the curb lane on Ross Street.
| Dates |
Time |
Service |
Monday through Friday
from September 24 to
October 16, 2026
Closed Monday, October 12 |
8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
- Voter Registration (Room 326)
- Over the Counter Voting
- Ballot Return
|
Saturday,
October 17, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
- Voter Registration
- Satellite Voting
- Ballot Return
|
Sunday,
October 18, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
- Voter Registration
- Satellite Voting
- Ballot Return
|
Monday,
October 19, 2026
Voter registration deadline
|
8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
- Voter Registration (Room 326)
- Over the Counter Voting
- Ballot Return
|
Tuesday, October 20 to
Friday, October 23, 2026 |
8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
- Over the Counter Voting
- Ballot Return
|
Saturday, October 24 to
Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
- Satellite Voting
- Ballot Return
|
Monday,
October 26, 2026 |
8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
- Over the Counter Voting
- Ballot Return (Forbes Ave. and Ross St. Entrance)
|
Tuesday,
October 27, 2026
Application deadline for mail-in ballot |
8:30 am to 5:00 pm |
- Over the Counter Voting
- Ballot Return (Forbes Ave. and Ross St. Entrance)
|
Wednesday, October 28 to
Friday, October 30, 2026 |
8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
- Ballot Return (Ross St. Entrance)
|
Saturday, October 31 to
Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
- Ballot Return (Ross St. Entrance)
|
Monday,
November 2, 2026 |
8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
- Ballot Return (Forbes Ave. Entrance)
|
Monday,
November 2, 2026 |
11:00 am to 7:00 pm |
- Ballot Return (Ross St. Entrance)
|
Tuesday,
November 3, 2026 |
7:00 am to 8:00 pm |
- Ballot Return (Ross St. Entrance)
|
Ballot Return Sites
Ballot return sites are county-staffed locations where registered voters may return mail-in or absentee ballots in person. Using a ballot return site to deliver your voted ballot in person assures that your ballot is received timely.
The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is October 27, 2026, at 5:00 pm. Voters may track mail-in ballots that are returned before Election Day to ballot return and satellite locations.
2026 Ballot Return Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Locations |
Friday,
October 30, 2026 |
11:00 am to 7:00 pm |
|
Saturday,
October 31, 2026 |
9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
Sunday,
November 1, 2026 |
9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
Monday,
November 2, 2026 |
11:00 am to 7:00 pm |
Tuesday,
November 3, 2026
General Election Day |
7:00 am to 8:00 pm |
County Office Building only |