EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County Council narrowly rejected a measure Thursday that would have required the council’s approval for administrators to set up a pair of satellite elections offices.
After the county election commission requested more ballot-on-demand sites in June, officials announced plans to create two sites where voters could turn in or request a mail ballot: one on Lehigh University’s campus in Bethlehem, and another in Washington Township.
County Executive Lamont McClure said the efforts are a response to extremely long lines to vote at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem last November; many of the polling place’s voters are Lehigh University students.
Thursday’s resolution, voted down 5-4, would have required county officials to seek council’s approval before spending money on satellite elections offices and notify the body of any funds put toward running them.
'Council controls the purse strings'
“This is not about elections, this ordinance is about money,” county council solicitor Christopher Spadoni said.
“In reference to legislation and budgetary action, County Council is supreme. Where the money goes and how it goes, County Council controls the purse strings.”
Because administrators plan to use already-budgeted funds to stand up the new sites, McClure told the council that commissioners do not need to approve the spending.
Additionally, McClure contends the council lacks authority to keep his administration from spending money already in the budget, regardless of what their resolution may say.
If commissioners had approved the measure, McClure would have vetoed it, he said. Even if enough council members voted to override a veto, the resolution would not take effect until after Election Day.
Northampton County Republican Committee Chairman Glenn Geissinger denounced plans for satellite elections offices at prior county council meetings, and suggested the committee may sue to block their creation.
