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May 20, 2025

What Happens on Election Night in Allegheny County

City Cast Pittsburgh

What Happens on Election Night in Allegheny County

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Thanks to a quirk of Pennsylvania law, our 67 counties can’t start counting mail-in ballots until the polls open on election day. So while the rest of us head off to our respective polling places, everyone from the medical examiner to the street sweepers will be in a North Side warehouse opening envelopes and tallying up the votes. County communications director Abigail Gardner is here to explain what happens behind the scenes on election night and when we might know who wins, plus why Pittsburgh is better than Philly!

Need some last-minute help with your ballot? Check out our procrastinator's guide to the primary election!

**This episode originally published October 21, 2024.

Learn more about the sponsors of this May 20th episode:

Pittsburgh Pride

Heinz History Center

Bike PGH

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