April 20, 2023 May 16 Primary Election Information and Key Dates On Tuesday, May 16, voters across the United States will vote in the primary elections. What does your primary election voting plan look like? Be sure to dedicate time today to check your voter registration status, review what options you have to cast your vote, and create your personal voting timeline ahead of the 2023 Primary Elections. Key Primary Election Dates Mark your calendar for these key dates: May 1, 2023 – Last day to register to vote before the May 16 election. May 2, 2023 – Attend the Nonpartisan Countywide Candidate Forum to submit your questions and hear statements from Allegheny County candidates. May 9, 2023 – Last day to apply for Absentee or Mail in Ballot. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. The Mail-In Ballot Application is also available in Spanish. May 16, 2023 – Last day to return Mail In or Absentee Ballots. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Register to Vote The deadline to register to vote is May 1, 2023. If you are not registered, register now by completing the Voter Registration Application. If you are uncertain of your registration status, check it using the Pennsylvania Department of State Voter Registration Status Tool. Voter Registration Applications are also available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Online voter registration is open until 11:59 p.m. on May 1, 2023. Find Your Polling Place Not sure where to vote? Use the Pennsylvania Department of State Polling Place Search Tool to locate your polling place for election day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Any person in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Poll Workers The Elections Division is currently seeking and assigning poll workers. Demonstrate your civic participation by serving on Election Day as a Judge, Inspector or Clerk of Election. Poll workers, also referred to as election officers, earn from $150 to $175 for the day. New poll workers also receive paid training. Learn more about the Poll Worker Application process if you are interested participating in the May 16 primary election as a poll worker. First Time Voter Information First-time voters, including individuals that are voting for the first-time at the polling place, will be asked to show an approved form of identification. Approved forms of photo ID (Remember, the ID must be valid and not expired.) PA driver’s license or ID card issued by PennDOT ID issued by any other Commonwealth agency ID issued by the U.S. Government U.S. Passport U.S. Armed Forces ID Student ID Employee ID Approved forms of non-photo ID (The ID must include the name and address of the elector) Voter’s identification card issued by the voter registration commission Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government Firearm permit Current utility bill Current bank statement Current paycheck Government check Visit the Pennsylvania Voter Services website for all of your voting information questions. Learn More If have questions about your registration status, polling place, or the May 16 election, visit the Allegheny County Elections website or contact the county election office at 412.350.4500. Address Allegheny County Elections Division 542 Forbes Ave., Suite 312 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2953 Hours Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
September 21, 2020 November 3 Election Reminders With the November 3 election quickly approaching, do you have a voting plan? Dedicate time today to check your voter registration status, review what options you have to cast your vote, and create your personal voting timeline. Save The Dates Use the dates listed below to create your personal voting timeline. If you would like to receive ballot deadline reminders, election date reminders, and more, sign-up to receive emails from Votes PA. October 19, 2020 Last day to complete a voter registration before the November 3 election. October 27, 2020 by 5 p.m. Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot or absentee ballot. November 3, 2020 by 8 p.m. Last day for County Boards of Elections to receive completed mail-in and absentee ballots. November 3, 2020, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In-person polling locations are open. Visit the PA Voter Services website to find yours. Register To Vote To participate in the November 3 election, voter registrations must be submitted by October 19, 2020. Interested community members can register to vote by: completing the online application, submiting an application in the mail, visiting their county voter registration office, or visiting a number of government offices, including PennDOT Photo or Driver’s License Centers. Check Your Voter Registration To check your voter registration status and polling place address, visit the PA Voter Services website. Voting In-Person On November 3, polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line when the polls close, you are entitled to vote. Visit the PA Voter Services website to find your polling place. If you have voted at your polling location before, you will not need to bring an ID to vote. Only voters who are voting for the first time in their election district need to show their ID (driver’s license, U.S. passport, voter registration card, current utility bill, etc.). Over-The-Counter Voting Offices On September 17, the Allegheny County Board of Elections approved a proposal to open additional over-the-counter voting offices on weekends leading up to the November 3 election. Registered voters can visit these secure offices to cast their vote or submit their completed ballots. Office Locations Planned dates, locations, and hours include the following: Saturday, October 10 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. County Office Building, Downtown; North Park Ice Rink; South Park Ice Rink; #2 Department of Public Works Garage, Carnegie; and the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Homewood Location Sunday, October 11 | 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. County Office Building, Downtown; North Park Ice Rink; South Park Ice Rink; #2 Department of Public Works Garage, Carnegie; and the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Homewood Location Saturday, October 17 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. County Office Building, Downtown; South Park Ice Rink; CCAC South; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; and Shop ‘N Save, Hill District Sunday, October 18 | 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. County Office Building, Downtown; South Park Ice Rink; CCAC South; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; and Shop ‘N Save, Hill District Saturday, October 24 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. County Office Building, Downtown; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; CCAC South; CCAC Allegheny; and North Park Ice Rink Sunday, October 25 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. County Office Building, Downtown; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; CCAC South; CCAC Allegheny; and North Park Ice Rink Absentee Ballots If you expect to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or illness, you can request an absentee ballot. Voters will be required to list the reason for submitting this ballot type. This ballot type is best suited for: college students who are not registered to vote at their school address, people whose work or vacation take them away from the municipality where they live, people with a physical disability or illness that prevents them from going to the polling place, members of the military, people who may have a conflict due to the celebration of a religious holiday, and people who are incarcerated who haven’t been convicted of a felony. Submit An Application Complete the online application to request your absentee ballot. Applications to receive an absentee ballot for the November 3 election must be received by your County Election Office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. After receiving your ballot in the mail, your completed ballot must be received by your County Election Office no later than 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020. You can submit your ballot in the mail or by visiting your County Election Office. Mail-In Ballots If you would like to submit a ballot without visiting a polling location but are not eligible for an absentee ballot, you can apply for a mail-in ballot. Voters will not be required to list a reason for submitting this type of ballot. All registered voters are eligible to request a mail-in ballot. Submit An Application Complete the online application to request your mail-in ballot. Applications to receive a mail-in ballot for the November 3 election must be received by your County Election Office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. After receiving your ballot in the mail, your completed ballot must be received by your County Election Office no later than 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020. You can submit your ballot in the mail or by visiting your County Election Office. More Information Visit the Votes PA website for more information on mail-in and absentee ballots, registering to vote in Pennsylvania, what to expect as a first-time voter, upcoming elections, and more.
March 27, 2020 Pennsylvania Adjusts Mail-In Ballot Deadlines for COVID-19 Pennsylvania is now offering two options that community members can choose from to submit their vote if they are unable to get to the polls on election day, including mail-in and absentee ballots. Registered voters can submit either ballot via mail or in person at their County Election Office. Election and deadline dates for ballots have now changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About Thanks to sweeping reforms included in Act 77 of 2019, which take effect for the first time in the upcoming 2020 primary election, mail-in ballots will be available as an effort to increase voter access and security. Mail-in ballots not only offer an additional option for voters who are unable to make it to the polls but also provide a new option for Pennsylvanians who do not qualify for absentee ballots. Both mail-in and absentee voters will receive a ballot in the mail to complete and return to their county election office by 8 p.m. on election day (June 2, 2020). In order to request either ballot type, you must be registered to vote. Visit Check Your Registration Status to review your registration information. The deadline for voter registration is now May 18, 2020 Absentee Ballots If you plan to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or illness, you can request an absentee ballot. Voters will be required to list the reason for submitting this ballot type. This ballot type is best suited for: college students who are not registered to vote at their school address, people whose work or vacation take them away from the municipality where they live, those with a physical disability or illness that prevents them from going to the polling place, members of the military, people who may have a conflict due to the celebration of a religious holiday, and inmates who haven’t be convicted of a felony. Submit an Application Applications to receive an absentee ballot for the 2020 primary election must be received by your County Election Office by 5 p.m. on May 26, 2020. Complete the online application by clicking here. Special election voters can apply for an absentee ballot by completing the paper application form and submitting it to your County Election Office. Mail-In Ballots If you aren’t an absentee voter, you may apply for a mail-in ballot. Voters will not be required to list a reason for submitting this ballot type. This ballot type is suited for any person who wishes to submit their vote without visiting a polling place. Please note that mail-in ballots are not available for any election prior to the 2020 primary election. As of April 17, 2020, all registered voters in Allegheny County will receive a mail-in ballot application in the mail for the June 2 primary election due to the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis. Applications will be mailed with postage-paid addressed envelopes for community members to return their completed applications. Registered voters can also apply online to receive a mail-in ballot. Submit an Application Applications to receive a mail-in ballot for the 2020 primary election must be received by your County Election Office by 5 p.m. on May 26, 2020. Complete the online application by clicking here. After receiving your ballot in the mail, your completed ballot must be received no later than 8 p.m. on June 2, 2020. Registering to Vote Community members must register to vote at least 15 days before the election. To participate in the 2020 Primary Election, voter registrations must be submitted by May 18, 2020. Individuals can register to vote online, by mail, in person at your county voter registration office, or at a number of government agencies, including PennDOT Photo License and Driver’s License Centers. For more information on eligibility and registering to vote in Pennsylvania, visit the Votes PA website. More Information Visit the Votes PA website for more information on mail-in and absentee ballots, registering to vote in Pennsylvania, what to expect as a first-time voter, upcoming elections, and more. Information provided by Votes PA and Keystone Votes For more information on COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Resources page here.
May 28, 2019 Cast Your Vote: 2019 WQED Reader’s Choice Award Community members are invited to take part in selecting the 2019 WQED Reader’s Choice Award Winner by casting their votes by Friday, May 31. About For the past 10 years, WQED has partnered with The EQT Corporation to present the Writers Contest to children throughout their viewing area. Through the support of EQT, WQED has been able to reach out directly to schools, libraries, and families throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia to encourage children to submit their original stories and illustrations. In the 10 years of sponsorship from EQT, WQED has received over 12,000 story entries, communicated with hundreds of teachers and librarians to provide them with resources, impacted thousands of WQED viewers with messages about the contest, and provided a website full of information that encourages students and arms adults with relevant literacy information. Cast Your Vote Voting is now open and will end on Friday, May 31st at 12:00 p.m. The Reader’s Choice Award Winner will be announced on Monday, June 3. To learn more and cast your vote, visit the WQED website. *Information provided by WQED
May 6, 2019 Vote School Board First! Fundraiser Mingle with members of Vote School Board First! coalition organizations to learn more about why they are involved, what issues they care about most, and why you should care too! Light appetizers will be provided. Cocktails will be available for purchase. About the Fundraiser Happening at Wigle Whiskey Distillery on Monday, May 6 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., this event is an opportunity to learn more about and donate to the Vote School Board First! 2019 campaign. A portion of all drinks and bottle sales will be donated. Don’t like whiskey? Don’t worry. Visit their website to learn about their full spirits collection. RSVP and More Information To RSVP for free, visit the event page. For more information, contact Graham at 412.697.1298, ext. 115 or gmulqueen@aplusschools.org. Share this flyer with your network.
April 22, 2019 Door Knocking: School Board Member Elections Being a School Board member is one of the most important elected positions in Pittsburgh. They play a vital role in our community property, including setting tax rates, negotiating the work rules and pay for all school staff, hiring key school administrators, and enacting policies that govern the district and budget. However, only one in five registered voters cast their votes during school board elections. How Can You Help? On May 21, 2019, voters will vote in the primary elections for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8. You can help make sure voters are informed about the upcoming School Board elections by signing up to volunteer today and talking with your friends and neighbors. Interested volunteers can sign up for varying types of opportunities, including: Door Knocking, Phone Banking, and Giving Voters Information on Election Day. Volunteer Sign Up Sign up for canvassing today to support your local community. Other Sessions Phone Banking – Thursday, April 25 | A+ Schools Office | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Learn more and register.
Phone Banking: School Board Member Elections Being a School Board member is one of the most important elected positions in Pittsburgh. They play a vital role in our community property, including setting tax rates, negotiating the work rules and pay for all school staff, hiring key school administrators, and enacting policies that govern the district and budget. However, only one in five registered voters cast their votes during school board elections. How Can You Help? On May 21, 2019, voters will vote in the primary elections for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8. You can help make sure voters are informed about the upcoming School Board elections by signing up to volunteer today and talking with your friends and neighbors. Interested volunteers can sign up for varying types of opportunities, including: Door Knocking, Phone Banking, and Giving Voters Information on Election Day. Volunteer Sign Up Sign up for phone banking today to support your local community. Other Sessions Door Knocking – Saturday, April 27 | Highland Park | 11 a.m. | Learn more and register.
February 19, 2019 2019 City-Wide School Board Candidate Forum Join A+ Schools and a coalition of community partners (including Trying Together) at the 2019 City-Wide School Board Candidate Forum on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Kaufmann Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Program Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from School Board Candidates in Districts 2, 4, 6, and 8. Candidates will be asked questions about how they will best represent students, families, and taxpayers on the Pittsburgh School Board and citizens will have an opportunity to ask questions. Visit www.voteschoolboardfirst.org for more information on each of the candidates prior to the event. Registration To register for this free event, visit the registration page! Sponsors This event is co-sponsored by: APOST, ARYSE, BPEP, Latino Community Center, Lawrenceville United, League of Women Voters, Pittsburgh Project, Pittsburgh Promise, PUMP, Trying Together, The University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Child Development, Urban League, and Youth Places. Share this flyer with your network.
December 5, 2018 What’s Next for the Allegheny County Children’s Fund? Although the outcome of “Our Kids. Our Commitment.” initiative was not what proponents wanted, key stakeholders are looking toward the future and finding some victory in the vote. Voting Results During the recent election, over 513,000 Allegheny County residents cast their vote on a proposed amendment to establish the Allegheny County Children’s Fund through an increase in property taxes (0.25 millage rate, an estimated $30 increase per year for the average household). The fund would have supported early learning opportunities for children, after-school programs and nutritious meals. The amendment was defeated, with 48.31 percent of voters in support and 51.69 percent against. “What I heard from my constituents was that they liked the idea of increased and specific funding for early learning, after-school programming, and nutrition programs,” says Councilwoman Deb Gross. “But they had concerns about the governance of the fund.” What Does This Mean? The defeat means that Allegheny County still does not dedicate any funding to early learning programs and nutritious meals but does allocate approximately $8 million to after-school programs. Advocates of the Children’s Fund say, despite the vote’s outcome, the need for these programs is still there, and that the vote showed that there is great public interest in finding a solution to funding these programs for our children. “What this tells us is that just over a half-million people in Allegheny County care about this issue,” says Patrick Dowd, executive director of Allies for Children. “There is wide consensus that these types of programs are something we should be supporting, and clearly a number of people care about this issue. That part to us is helpful and inspiring.” James Doyle, executive director of Higher Achievement, Pittsburgh, appreciates the number of people who did vote yes. “The people are saying they care about these three critical things enough to support a small increase in their taxes,” he says. “That sends a strong message for us to continue our work.” Advocates agree that the vote shows people care about this issue and people want to see some sort of funding be provided for this type of early childhood support. What’s Next? The 10 organizations that came together to form the Allegheny County Children’s Fund Initiative will continue to advocate for these programs in the day-to-day work of their organizations. The path to move forward, Dowd says, is through continued conversations with supporters, as well as listening very carefully to those who weren’t supportive. The group plans to create a space for people to re-engage as they sift through many ideas and other feedback they received. A future source of funding will need to have a transparent means of reporting back to the public, they say, but the source of that funding remains to be seen. Allegheny Children’s Fund supporters will continue to advocate for these initiatives in the day-to-day work of their organizations, as well as through their continued collaboration to create a source of funding that will support these programs in the long-term. “Our organization’s mission has been and will continue to be one that focuses on advocating on behalf of the needs and rights of children,” says Cara Ciminillo, executive director of Trying Together. “The needs remain and the needs are great.” “I am hopeful that the state will continue the pattern of the past few years with incremental increases to funding for these programs, but this has not been enough to fill the gap,” she says. “We will be continuing the effort to look for local revenue to help support some of that gap.” *Information provided by Kidsburgh*
November 16, 2018 NAEYC Invites ECE Professionals to #ProtectFamilies In today’s world, each new day brings an onslaught of information, images, data, and stories. While immigrant families with young children may cycle in and out of the front pages, the need for early childhood educators from all backgrounds to stand together to protect and support them continues to capture our time and attention. As an active member of the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign, NAEYC continues to stand against family separation, and to stand in opposition to the new proposed regulation on “public charge,” which they believe would punish parents and harm children. With stories of two-year-olds in court and tent cities on the border, NAEYC remains deeply concerned about what has happened and what will happen to the hundreds of children still separated from their families, as well as what will happen to the families yet to be detained. Opportunities to Stay Informed and Advocate Watch this webinar from NAEYC and CLASP that outlines the roles and responsibilities early childhood educators have in working with immigrant families. Write comments in opposition to the public charge regulation. Learn more and, if you are ready, submit your comments today. You can also wait until NAEYC is able to share additional templates and language specific to early childhood education and educators. (Stay tuned, and check out this great Q & A from CLASP for the early childhood community in the meantime!) Support Save the Children, which has partnered with the American Immigration Council and the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s (AILA) Immigration Justice Campaign, and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) to assist family reunification efforts. Vote and pledge to vote by taking part in the “Our Votes. Their Futures.” campaign. Speak Up, Speak Out If you believe in a world in which all young children can thrive and learn, our society must be dedicated to ensuring that they reach their full potential. This world does not include incarcerating children, separating them from their families, or forcing families to stop accessing critical services and supports because they are afraid. Rather, NAEYC understands and upholds the bonds between children and their families, and, as advocates, calls for individuals to speak up and out to defend those bonds. Recognize the power of your voice and actions, and stay engaged as NAEYC members move forward on this and many other issues facing our children, families, and educators. *Information provided by NAEYC*
