BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pennsylvanians have only a few days left to request a mail-in ballot ahead of the primary election.
Registered voters have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, to request a mail-in ballot; with no referendum questions on the ballot in Lehigh and Northampton counties, the election is limited exclusively to registered members of the Democratic and Republican parties.
Democratic voters have embraced mail-in ballots since the 2020 presidential primary, the first time Pennsylvania allowed for no-excuse mail-in voting.
However, last year's presidential election saw Republicans adopt over-the-counter mail-in voting; voters can request the mail-in ballots in person at their local election county office and fill out the ballot during the same visit.
The surge in over-the-counter ballots resulted in lengthy wait times in the days ahead of the mail-in ballot deadline. However, that's not been an issue this year.
The line was nonexistent Friday afternoon at the Lehigh County Government Center, and Chief Clerk of Elections Tim Benyo said his office has not witnessed the same demand for the municipal primary, which typically sees a sharp downturn in voter participation compared to the presidential election.
Along with requesting a ballot in person at their county's election office, voters can request a ballot online at pavoterservices.gov. Voters who can't recall if they're signed up for a mail-on ballot or if they're registered to vote can use the same website to check their status.
Election staff will only count ballots they received by 8 p.m. May 20, the same time in-person polls close.
Voters returning their ballots by mail are encouraged to do so as soon as possible in case of delivery delays from the United States Post Office. Voters can also drop off their ballots at designated drop boxes.
Lehigh County Drop Box Locations
Whitehall Township Municipal Building
3219 MacArthur Road, Whitehall Township
Available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Lehigh County Authority
1053 Spruce Road, Lower Macungie Township
Available Monday through Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.
Fountain Hill Borough Building
941 Long St., Fountain Hill
Available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Lehigh County Government Center
17 S. Seventh St., Allentown, PA 18101
Available 24/7
Macungie Borough Building
21 Locust St., Macungie
Available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Northampton County Drop Box Locations
Washington Township Municipal Building
1021 Washington Blvd., Washington Township
Available Monday through Thursday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Fridays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
East Allen Township Municipal Building
5344 Nor Bath Blvd., East Allen Township
Available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
NCC Fowler Family Southside Center
511 E. Third St., Bethlehem
Available Monday through Thursday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.; Fridays between 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday
Northampton County Courthouse
669 Washington St., Easton.
Available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Northampton County Human Services Building
2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem Township.
Available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day
Northampton County 911 Center
100 Gracedale Ave., Upper Nazareth Township
Available 24/7
Bethlehem City Hall
10 E. Church St., Bethlehem
Available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day
