BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pennsylvanians looking to cast a ballot for county commissioners, Supreme Court justice retention and local offices have until Monday to register to vote in the upcoming Nov. 4 election.
Eligible voters may register online or at their local county elections office.
To qualify, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old and have lived within the voting district for at least 30 days. Monday is also the deadline for voters to update their registration if they've moved to a new district.
Once registered, Pennsylvania voters can either cast their ballot in person at their local polling place or request a mail-in ballot.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28. Voters can either request a ballot in person at their county election office or fill out an online form. Voters who want a mail-in ballot are encouraged to apply for one sooner rather than later; delivery times can drag out, causing voters not to receive their ballots in time.
In recent years, "on-demand" ballots have grown more popular in the Lehigh Valley. These are mail-in ballots that voters complete at the county election office and return during the same trip. These are only available through Oct. 28.
Voters who are not sure if they've requested a mail-in ballot can check the state website for their ballot status. Voters casting a ballot at their local polling place on Election Day can confirm the address of their polling place online.
Mail-in ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. Nov. 4 — Election Day. Voters who haven't mailed out their ballots by at least Nov. 1 are strongly encouraged to return them in person to their county election office or a designated drop box. Ballots that aren't mailed by Nov. 1 may not arrive by the 8 p.m. deadline; late ballots are not counted.
What's at stake
Turnout for the November election is expected to fall off dramatically from last year's presidential election. Historically, hundreds of thousands of voters don't show up for local elections, which don't receive the same level of media and public attention compared to federal races.
However, local elections arguably play a greater role on voters' quality of life. Mayors are responsible for local police and public safety while county judges have the authority to sentence people to prison or break apart families.
Meanwhile, school board directors and municipal lawmakers set budgets and tax rates. County commissioners and executives oversee human services, which acts as a safety net for the poor, elderly, mentally ill and other vulnerable members of society.
Lehigh County election locations
The Lehigh County Voter Registration office is located in the basement of the Lehigh County Government Center at 17 S. Seventh St. in Allentown. Normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lehigh County's mail-in ballot drop boxes are located at the following locations:
The Whitehall Township Municipal Building
3219 MacArthur Road, Whitehall Township
Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Lehigh County Authority
1053 Spruce Road, Lower Macungie Township
Open 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday
Fountain Hill Borough Hall
941 Long St., Fountain Hill
Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Lehigh County Government Center
17 S. Seventh St., Allentown
Available 24 hours a day
Macungie Borough Hall
21 Locust St., Macungie
Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Monday through Friday
Northampton County election locations
The Northampton County Voter Registration office is located in the lower level of the Northampton County Courthouse at 669 Washington St. in Easton. The office is currently holding extended hours, operating from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays until Oct. 27 to accommodate "on-demand" voters. The office closes at 5 p.m. on Oct. 28, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot. The office is also open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon until Oct. 25.
Northampton County's election office also operates a satellite office at the Fowler Center at 511 E. Third St. in Bethlehem. Eligible residents can register to vote at this office and request a mail-in ballot. Completed mail-in ballots may be turned at a drop box located at the facility.
The satellite office will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 21, Oct. 22, Oct. 24 and Oct. 28.
Northampton County's drop boxes are located at the following locations:
Northampton County Courthouse
669 Washington St., Easton
Open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Available up to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Northampton County 911 Center
100 Gracedale Ave., Upper Nazareth Township
Available 24 hours a day
Northampton County Human Services Building
2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem Township
7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Bethlehem City Hall
10 E. Church St., Bethlehem
Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Available up to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
East Allen Township Municipal Building
5344 Nor-Bath Blvd., East Allen Township
Open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Northampton Community College Fowler Center
511 E. Third St., Bethlehem
Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
