'I'm very frustrated': Problems at Ross Township polling place leave some voters upset
ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — While many people headed to the polls Tuesday morning, some could not cast their ballots.
Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs said polling locations in Pittsburgh, West Deer, Monroeville and Tarentum had a delayed start.
The McKnight United Methodist Church in Ross Township did not open to voters until 9:30 a.m., which was two and a half hours late.
Poll workers said there are two reasons they couldn't open on time. Someone did not show up to unlock the door and the elections judge did not come due to health issues.
"We had some poll workers call off due to sickness. We had some places short poll workers," Allegheny County Elections Division Manager David Voye said.
Downs said the Elections Division was notified about the problem before 7 a.m. and was pursuing all options. They even contacted the courts for an order to have sheriff's deputies enter the building when the person showed up to open it.
Voter Linda Watson went to the church twice to vote and could not get inside.
"I threw away my mail-in ballot because my plan was to vote here in person," Watson said. "I'm very frustrated and very upset that not just in this essence my right to vote is taken away, but so many other people are given obstacles to prohibit them from voting."
Watson said she also called the Elections Office but could not reach anyone. Downs said extra staff was added, but the call volume still exceeds capacity.
She also mentioned they had a number of call-offs due to COVID-19, but they were able to send other workers to help. Downs said the late openings and medical problems happen every election.
The county said it also received a number of calls from people reporting that polling places were running low on ballots.
"We were getting reports that they believe they're running short. I don't think anyone ran out yet, but we are in the process logically of getting additional ballots in these locations," said Voye.
Other minor issues included volunteers campaigning too close to a polling place, a road closure near a precinct and a tree-cutting crew obstructing a polling spot.
