County’s voters drop off stream of ballots
Many Allegheny County voters took advantage of the general election’s ballot drop- off points that were open Sunday for mail- in ballots.
Despite the Steelers- Browns football game at Heinz Field, a steady stream of civic- minded people exercised their right to vote before Nov. 3.
Brian Sammon, of Oakland, was waiting in line for an elevator to the sixth floor of the Allegheny County Office Building on Forbes Avenue, where he was going to get a mail- in ballot.
“I vote with a lot of Pitt students, so every election year, it is a least a two- hour wait to vote on polling day,” he said.
For that reason, he decided to get his ballot, fill it out and drop it off Sunday.
With two windows open, lines moved quickly for those voters who were just dropping off the ballots.
Ballot collectors were making sure that the outside envelopes had
been signed. Once ballots were turned in, voters received their own coveted “I Voted” sticker.
Many of the voters who were interviewed said they had never voted early before.
“I was concerned that there will be long lines on Election Day, and I was also concerned about child care that day and wanted to make
sure I had an opportunity to vote,” said Stacy Rosenberg, of Fox Chapel.
She had just dropped off her ballot on the main floor of the county office building. She said it was her first time voting early.
“I just think this is an especially critical election,” she added.
Adam and Aileen Richardson, of Bloomfield, were there to avoid anticipated Election Day lines.
“I chose to vote early today to avoid the hassle and make it easier on everyone during Election Day,” Adam Richardson said.
The couple said this was the first time they had voted early in a presidential election. The COVID- 19 pandemic also figured into their decision to vote early, they said.
“We definitely wanted to avoid the crowds on Election Day,” Aileen Richardson added.
Also making sure they voted early were Stacey Gray and her daughter Luqie Kelos with Ms. Kelos’ children, 11- month- old Riley Pacey and 3- year- old Robert Pacey.
“I never knew it was possible to come early, so I voted now because I didn’t want to be stuck in a long line on voting day and I wanted to make sure I would be off and make sure my vote counted,” Ms. Gray said.
“We are a dynamic duo, so when she said, ‘ Let’s go vote,’ I said ‘ OK!’ ” Ms. Kelos said.
The Shop ’ n Save grocery store in the Hill District was open Sunday for early voters dropping ballots. Like the Downtown location, plenty of people were taking advantage of the opportunity.
“It’s great coming down here,” said Lee Brown, of Wilkinsburg. “It’s convenient and organized.”
Volunteer Jeanette Jones, of Penn Hills, said the voting stations are wiped down and sanitized after each person uses the space.
“They make sure the tables and pens are clean,” she said.
There was one cup for clean pens and another for used pens at each voting station.
“There’s also hand sanitizer throughout the store,” Ms. Jones added.
“I wanted to come here to promote awareness in the Black community about how important it is to vote,” said Jasimine Cooper, of Forest Hills.
While there, she also picked up a Black Voters Matter T- shirt.
There was some confusion about which campus of the Community College of Allegheny County was open for ballot drop- off. Only the South Hills campus was accepting ballots Sunday, but several potential voters were walking around the CCAC- Allegheny campus on Ridge Avenue in the North Side, trying doors on the buildings and hoping to find where the drop- off location was.
For next weekend’s locations and times for dropping off ballots, go to https:// alleghenycounty. us/ elections/ additionalelection- offices. aspx.