Distracted driving fines coming; are you prepared for the May 19 Primary?; Homewood Park improvements – and more!

Rep. Abigail Salisbury May 18, 2026 | 8:24 AM

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Are you prepared for the May 19 Primary?

The Primary Election is this Tuesday, May 19, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you are on line by 8 p.m., you can vote. If you’re not sure where to vote, you can find your polling place here.

You do not need to show ID at the polls in order to vote unless it is your first time voting at a new polling place.

If you received a mail ballot but have not yet returned it, it is too late to put it in the mail. Instead, return it to one of our county's ballot return sites. Visit this page or click on the image below for a list of those sites.

If you have a mail ballot that you have not yet completed and you decide you would prefer to vote in person, simply bring your unvoted mail ballot materials with you to your polling place. Surrender the ballot along with the outer return envelope, and it will be voided. You can then vote in person.

If you requested a mail ballot but did not receive it, or do not have the ballot to surrender, you may still vote by provisional ballot at your polling place. The provisional ballot will be reviewed by the county board of elections after Election Day to determine whether it can be counted.

Because Pennsylvania has a closed primary, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for their party’s nominees in the primary. (All voters, however, may vote on a constitutional amendment question or ballot question or in a special election.) Visit this page for more voting information.

Our office will be closed on Tuesday, May 19, for the Primary Election.

Around the District

Last week, our staffer Leslie and I toured Mon Valley Initiative’s recent project, supported by state and federal historic tax credits, to transform a former church next to the Carnegie Library into eight affordable housing units. Visit this page to read more about MVI and its work over the decades to help rebuild the Mon Valley region.

Leslie and I also had a wonderful tour of Heritage Community Initiatives – a nonprofit organization that provides transportation, education, and nutrition services to support socioeconomic mobility – and visited the Heritage 4 Kids Early Learning Center and the HOST (Heritage Out Of School Time) program.

Our district office director, Aaron, attended a tour hosted by Pittsburgh City Councilman Khari Mosley of the new facilities at Homewood Park. The multimillion dollar project, expected to be completed this summer, will feature a plaza, amphitheater, playground, athletic field, and swimming pool. Visit this page to read more.

Please be aware that our office will be closed on Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. We will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, May 26.

Distracted driving fines will start in June

Beginning June 5, you can be cited for driving while using a hand-held device in Pennsylvania, even if you are stopped at a red light or sitting in traffic. “Paul Miller’s Law” went into effect last year, but in the first year, police could only issue warnings. Beginning June 5, drivers convicted of distracted driving will be subject to a $50 fine. There are exceptions for contacting emergency officials and hands-free technology.

The law is named for a 21-year-old Scranton man who was killed in a 2010 crash involving a truck driver who was using a cell phone.

Senior Farmers Market Voucher Program now open; vouchers will arrive by mail

This is a reminder that applications are now open for the 2026 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which is available to Allegheny County residents age 60 or older who meet income guidelines. Vouchers for use at local farmers markets will now be mailed directly to participants. You can apply online or pick up an application at our 501 Braddock Ave. district office. Visit this page to learn more!

Are you interested in learning more about Pittsburgh’s 2027 budget? Register to attend one of the sessions below, hosted by Mayor Corey O’Connor.

Finding funding & help with state services

If you’re searching for state grant funding, you can find a list of the latest program openings here and a handy grant-finding tool at this page. You can also find an online copy of the 2026 Pennsylvania Grant and Resource Directory here or pick up a hard copy at our 501 Braddock Ave. district office!

Finally, please remember that our office can help with a wide range of state-related matters – from filing a Property Tax/Rent Rebate or obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits and more. Contact us to find out how we can help!