Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

The Pennsylvania Department of State is starting a new office to help train county election workers, Pa. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. It also plans to update its guidance for logic and accuracy testing that could have caught issues with the Northampton County voting machines.

In a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro, state Rep. Milou Mackenzie asked the Department of State to provide Northampton County with instructions on how to avoid more Election Day mistakes with their voting machines.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure on Friday named a human resources department manager as his acting director of administration. She joined the county in May 2022.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Mark Pinsley announced Friday, Dec. 1, that he will run for auditor general in 2024. The position oversees financial and performance audits of Pennsylvania state government.

County Executive Lamont McClure reiterated Thursday he will not step down after the county experienced widespread problems with its voting machines on Election Day. Despite the problems, the county's Election Commission certified the results last week.

Republican Kat Copeland is hoping her experience as a federal and local prosecutor will help her become Pennsylvania's next attorney general.

County Executive Lamont McClure on Friday accepted the resignation of Charles Dertinger, his director of administration and a longtime political ally. As director of administration, Dertinger oversaw the county elections division, which came under scrutiny in the wake of widespread voting machine problems in the Nov. 7 election.

The Northampton County Republican Committee's legal team is in discussions with the Pennsylvania Republican Committee's legal team on how to proceed toward decertifying the county's election machines.

By a 4-1 vote, the Northampton County Election Commission certified the Nov. 7 election results, despite widespread problems with its voting machines.

Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman says more than 5 million residents have used mail-in voting since 2020.

The vote will uphold the 2019 measure allowing any voter to use a mail-in ballot.

Activists are grateful to Gov. Tom Wolf for launching a suit that opposes proposed amendments to the state constitution.

Councilwoman Taiba Sultana said she hopes her resolution will spark change.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano might not administer Pennsylvania law fairly, Dent says.

Law enforcement is Lehigh County's greatest expense.

Undated mail-in ballots were at the center of certification delays.

The Supreme Court’s ruling is likely to galvanize abortion rights voters in Pennsylvania, an expert says.

Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision was strong and swift.

Lehigh County will certify both the 2021 general and the 2022 primary elections on Wednesday.

Both Lehigh and Northampton counties are considering changing the color of secrecy envelopes.

Both candidates attended the count in person.