For some in-person voters, the process didn’t differ much from normal; others were frustrated over changes in polling locations and worried about a lack of social distancing.
The county consolidated polling places from a typical 850 locations to 147, encouraged mail-in ballots and pulled in additional staff to process ballot applications around the clock, while Gov. Tom Wolf extended the mail-in ballot deadline by a week for six counties, including Allegheny.
A number of local voters expressed frustration over not receiving their mail-in ballots or troubles in processing them, leaving some worrying if their vote would be counted.
Albert Tanjaya, a polling place leadman at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District, said he made dozens of calls throughout Election Day to the Downtown voter registration office with complicated questions about how to help residents whose polling locations had been moved or who hoped to vote in person because they hadn’t received their mail-in ballots.
A sign pointing voters to the mail-in ballot drop-off box in the lobby of the Allegheny County Office Building.
