Early voting begins in Northampton County
Early voting is underway in Northampton County.
Ballot-on-demand has begun in Northampton County while mail-in voting drop boxes will be available on Thursday, Oct. 5.
Under ballot-on demand, which began Monday, Northampton County residents who are eligible to vote can come to the Elections Office at the Government Center, register if they still need to, fill out a ballot application, vote on a paper ballot, and turn it in all in the same visit. You must bring a valid ID with you to the Elections Office to receive your ballot.
Eligible county residents can vote in person at the Government Center at 669 Washington St., Easton, on the following dates:
Monday, Oct. 2 – Friday, Oct. 13 from 8:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m
Monday, Oct. 16 - Monday, Oct. 30 from 8:30 am - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22 & Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
The last day will be Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registered voters who have already applied for a mail-in ballot are not eligible for ballot-on-demand and must wait to receive their ballot in the mail.
Voters can track the status of their mail-in or absentee ballots at Online/Absentee Ballot Tracking (pa.gov).
Ballot-on-demand voting was made possible under the 2019’s Act 77, which legalized no-excuse, mail-in-ballot voting.
Lehigh County expects to have on-demand voting and mail-in-ballot voting available by Oct. 16, according to Tim Benyo, chief clerk of elections.
Mail-in ballots
Meanwhile, Northampton began mailing out mail-in ballots on Monday. Voters can begin dropping off mail-in ballots on Thursday, Oct. 5.
Mail-in ballots must meet the following criteria to be counted:
The ballot is enclosed in the yellow secrecy envelope and sealed.
There are no identifying marks or symbols on the secrecy envelope.
The return envelope is signed and dated on the back in the appropriate yellow boxes.
The ballot is returned to the Election’s Office no later than 8 p.m. on Nov. 7. Nov. 7 postmarks will not count if received after this deadline.
Under state law, voters may only drop off their own ballots. Third-party return of ballots is prohibited unless the person returning the ballot is rendering assistance to a disabled voter or emergency absentee voter and has a signed “Certification of Designated Agent” form on file at the Elections Office. A copy of this form can be downloaded at Authorize Designated Agent Form (pa.gov).
Applications for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballots are available in the Election’s Office or at Mail-in and Absentee Ballot (pa.gov) or Absentee and Mail-In Voting. The last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot is Oct. 31.
Following are the drop-off box locations. Accessing them does not require going through security at any location.
Northampton County Courthouse Rotunda
669 Washington St., Easton
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
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
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Northampton County 911 Center:
100 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Bethlehem City Hall:
10 E. Church St., Bethlehem
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. *
*The drop box will be available until 8 p.m. on Election Night (Nov. 7)