Lehigh, Northampton counties launch drop boxes for mail-in ballots
With just weeks until the Nov. 5 presidential election, mail-in and absentee ballots are in the hands of Lehigh Valley voters or going out in the mail.
Voters can put their ballots in the mail or bring them directly to their county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
They can also drop off their envelopes in secure boxes in their respective counties. See the list of locations below.
You must be registered to vote to cast a ballot by mail. There’s still time to do both. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 21. Mail-in ballot requests must be received by your county election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.
For more information on registering to vote and mail-in voting, click here.
As of Monday, 46,245 voters in Lehigh County requested mail-in or absentee ballots, according to state data. The number in Northampton County was 46,222.
The Pennsylvania Department of State reminds mail-in voters to make sure they fill their ballots out correctly.
All ballots – whether mailed, placed in drop boxes or turned into county election offices – must be enclosed in the yellow secrecy envelope before being sealed in the outer envelope with gray lettering and purple trim. Secrecy envelopes cannot have any identifying marks. Outer envelopes must be signed and dated. Any ballots that fail to do this will not be counted.
It is illegal to drop off a ballot for someone else without permission. In that case, certificate of designated-agent forms can be obtained to drop off a ballot of someone who is physically unable to do so. See www.vote.pa.gov for details.
LEHIGH COUNTY DROP-BOX LOCATIONS
Whitehall Township Municipal Building
3219 MacArthur Road, Whitehall
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lehigh County Authority Lobby
1053 Spruce Road, Wescosville
Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Fountain Hill Borough Building
941 Long St., Fountain Hill
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Lehigh County Government Center
17 S. Seventh St., Allentown
Available 24/7 at main entrance
Macungie Borough Building
21 Locust St., Macungie
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY DROP-BOX LOCATIONS
Northampton County Courthouse (Rotunda)
669 Washington St., Easton
Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturdays on Oct. 12, Oct. 19, Oct. 26 (from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm)
When dropping off a ballot, voters can park for free in the loading-and-unloading zone on Washington Street in front of the courthouse or use the parking lot at the Wolf Avenue and Washington Street intersection.
Northampton County Human Services Building
2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem Township
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Northampton County 911 Center
Main Entrance Vestibule
100 Gracedale Ave., Upper Nazareth Township
Available 24/7
Bethlehem City Hall
10 E. Church St., Bethlehem
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Available 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day
Washington Township Municipal Building
1021 Washington Blvd., Washington Township
Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fridays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
East Allen Township Municipal Building
5344 Nor-Bath Blvd., East Allen Township
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fowler Family Southside Center
Northampton Community College
511 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem
Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fridays, 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.