Local counties bracing for a flood of mail-in votes

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Regardless of what happens with the U.S. Postal Service, local county officials say they’re preparing to handle the surge of mail-in votes expected for fall’s general election.

Solutions include increased staffing, the use of more ballot dropboxes and the availability of larger workspaces for workers on Election Day.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said the county received 200,000 mail-in votes during the spring primary elections.

“We had results ready that night,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said the county is not worried about proposed cuts to the U.S. Postal Service, such as hundreds of mail sorting machines being removed and overtime availability being reduced. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Tuesday those moves will be delayed, at least until after the election.

“The postal service is not in our control,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve been encouraging people to (return their ballots) early. We’re 77 days away, and the ballots could be going out in September. It’s going to be fine.”

Fitzgerald said mail-in ballots sent by U.S. mail should take approximately five days to reach the county office building.

Fitzgerald also said the county office building will still house the drop box for voters to hand deliver their ballots. He’s unsure if adding extra dropboxes is the solution.

“It’s still under consideration, but the question comes up how to staff them and secure them,” he said.

In Washington County, officials weren’t as optimistic about being able to handle the flood of mail-in votes in November.

“We’re not prepared for the influx of mail-in votes,” said Republican Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman. “On paper, it looked like a good idea, but we’re woefully underprepared.”

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