Pittsburgh early voting deadline looms in Pennsylvania primary election

Pennsylvania’s primary election will be held on May 19, with the general election following on November 3. Voters in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County must act quickly, as May 12 marks the final day for in-person early voting and the deadline to submit mail-in ballot applications by 5 p.m. The application must be received by the county election office, and voters can also apply, pick up, and vote with a mail ballot on the same day at the Allegheny County Elections office in Pittsburgh. Mail ballots can be returned to designated drop-off locations until 8 p.m. on Election Day, provided the application was submitted by May 12. To apply for a mail ballot, voters need a Pennsylvania driver’s license, PennDOT ID, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Alternative photo IDs, such as a U.S. passport or military ID, are accepted if these documents are unavailable. The voter registration deadline for the primary election has already passed on May 4, but registration for the general election remains open until October 19. Registered voters who miss the May 12 deadline but face unexpected circumstances—such as travel or illness—can request an emergency absentee ballot after 5 p.m. on that date. The Pennsylvania Department of State website provides tools to check voter registration status and access mail-in ballot applications. Key races in the primary include contests for state governor, with candidates such as Stacy Garrity and Josh Shapiro, alongside local elections for county committee members. Voters should verify their registration status and deadlines through the Pennsylvania Department of State’s official resources to ensure participation in the election.