BETHLEHEM PRESS POLICY: As we approach the Nov. 3 general election, the Bethlehem Press, in the interest of fairness, will halt publication of columns by local government officials and letters to the editor submitted by those running for office.

The last week for publication of columns by local government officials running for office was the Oct. 8 edition.

We will, of course, continue to cover the local races in news stories generated by our own reporters.

Letters to the Editor, written by members of the community or the candidate, had to be received by The Press no later than Oct. 16.

BETHLEHEM

BALLOT DROP BOX: The Northampton County Elections Office has begun sending out mail-in ballots to voters who applied for them. Ballots may be returned via U.S. Mail, or by placing them in any of the four different drop-off boxes located around Northampton County. The drop-off box in the City of Bethlehem will be located at City Hall, 10 East Church St., and ballots can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

LEHIGH COUNTY MAIL-IN BALLOT DROP BOXES: Drop boxes for mail-in ballots will be available for residents at five select municipal buildings in Lehigh County.

On Sept. 17, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled drop boxes will be allowed for the upcoming 2020 general election. As a result, the Lehigh County Election Board finalized drop boxes will be available.

Voters can find the drop boxes at the following district locations:

District #1

North Whitehall Township building, 3256 Levans Road, Coplay

7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Call 610-799-3411

District #2

Upper Macungie Township building, 8330 Schantz Road, Breinigsville

7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Call 610-395-4892

District #3

Catasauqua municipal building, 90 Bridge St., Catasauqua

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Call 610-264-0571

District #4

Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown

Night Drop Box at the voter office

Call 610-782-3194

District #5

Emmaus Borough office, 28 S. Fourth St., Emmaus

Call 610-965-9292

All locations will have drop boxes inside the building and will be available for use during normal municipal business hours.

Ballots can be dropped off at these locations instead of by mail or by handing them to a voter registration office employee. Each drop box location will be monitored via electronic surveillance and by the presence of a municipal poll worker.

All ballots must be enclosed in the security mailing envelope before being sealed in the mailing envelope. Any ballots that fail to do this will not be counted.

COUNTER BALLOTS AVAILABLE: Voters who have not applied for a mail-in ballot now can pick up an over-the-counter ballot at the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.

The ballots are available in conference room 40, where voters can fill out an application, have it processed and be counted on site starting Nov. 3. Additionally, voting booths will be available in the hallway for voters.

Mail-in ballots are now being sent out through the mail to those who previously applied. Over 65,000 ballots are set to be mailed out to voters in Lehigh County.

For additional information, contact the office at 610-782-3194.

“B” BALLOTS AVAILABLE: On Wednesday, Oct. 28, “B” Ballots will be available to all voters who did not receive their mail-in ballot. The Lehigh County Office of Voter Registration advises that voters who are still missing their ballots by Oct. 28 should come in to the voter’s office and pick up a “B” ballot. A voter may then use a “B” Ballot in lieu of their addressed mail-in ballot.

This is to ensure that those waiting for a mail-in ballot can cast their vote without missing the Nov. 3 deadline.

A “B” Ballot serves as a backup ballot for those who have not received their mail-in ballot after the initial application period. The Office of Voter Registration asks that voters wait at least a week after applying for a mail-in ballot before requesting the “B” Ballot. In the circumstance that a person receives their mail-in ballot after casting a “B” Ballot, the mail-in ballot will be ineligible to vote.

The Lehigh County Office of Voter Registration started to distribute mail-in ballots Oct. 6, and has continued mailing ballots throughout the month. However, there are some applicants in Lehigh County who are still waiting for their mail-in ballot. The “B” Ballot is an effort to ensure all voters have the chance to cast their ballot despite the unprecedented circumstances of the 2020 general election.

For more information on mail-in ballots or the B Ballot, please contact the Lehigh County Office of Voter Registration at 610-782-3194.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

ELECTION DAY: On Nov. 3, Northampton County’s 154 precincts will be fully staffed for voters who want to cast their ballot on one of the 315 ES&S ExpressVote XL machines. Turnout is expected to be high, so voters should prepare for long lines by wearing comfortable shoes and bring a chair if standing for long periods is difficult.

All poll workers will wear PPE and each precinct will be supplied with hand sanitizer and tape to mark off spaces for social distancing. The County of Northampton requests that everyone wear a mask while at the polls.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE POLLS: Polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Voters will check in at the registration table on an E-poll book by giving their name or displaying the barcode on the back of their driver’s license. The E-poll book will indicate if the voter is eligible to vote and if they are at the correct polling place. If so, they will sign in on the computer screen.

Voters who applied for a mail-in ballot and have turned it in are not eligible to vote at the polls.

Voters who applied for a mail-in ballot, but have decided they’d rather cast their vote on the machine must give the ballot and the return envelope to the Judge of Elections. After spoiling the ballot, the Judge will have the voter sign a form. Only then will they be issued a machine ballot for the ExpressVote XL.

Voters who applied for a mail-in ballot, but do not have their ballot or the return envelope with them will be given a provisional ballot. The Elections Board will verify that the voter did not vote by mail before the provisional ballot can be counted.

MAIL-IN BALLOTS: As of Oct. 20, the Northampton County Elections Office had approved 79,161 mail-in ballot applications for the General Election Nov. 3. Staff have mailed 78,424 ballots out to applicants and have already received 47,323 ballots back.

Mail-in and Absentee Applications as of 10/20

Total = 79,161; Dem: 47,910; Rep: 19,674; Other: 11,577

Total Returned as of 10/20 = 47,323

Returned Dem = 31,833

Returned Rep = 9,874

Returned Other = 5,616

The Elections Office reminds voters to carefully follow the instructions included with their ballot. Only use blue or black ink and the voter must sign and date the back of the return envelope before sending it in. “Naked” ballots-those which have not been enclosed in the inner secrecy envelope-will not be counted. Mail-in ballots may also be declared void if the ballot or secrecy envelope includes any text, marks or symbols “which reveals the identity of the elector, the elector’s political affiliation or the elector’s candidate preference.”

The return envelopes for mail-in ballots include postage. Voters do not need to add a stamp. Ballots may also be dropped off at the Elections Office at 669 Washington Street Easton, PA 18042 or deposited in one of the County’s four secure ballot drop-off boxes (see below).

An instructional video for voting on the ES&S ExpressVote XL is available online: www.northamptoncounty.org

Mail-in ballots can be turned in via the U.S. Mail or at a designated drop-off site. If submitted by mail, the ballot must be postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 and received by the Election Office by 5 p.m. Nov. 6 to be counted. All return envelopes include postage, voters do not need to add a stamp.

Under Pennsylvania law, voters are only permitted to hand deliver their own ballots. Mail-in ballots may be dropped off in-person at the Elections Office at 669 Washington St., Easton, until 8 p.m. Nov. 3 or at one of the county’s four official ballot drop-off boxes. The boxes will close at different times on Election Day.

Bethlehem City Hall Rotunda– 10 E. Church St. City Hall is closed on Election Day but the ballot drop-off box will be available in the Rotunda from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Northampton County 911 Center – 100 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA 18064 – open from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Human Services Building – 2801 Emrick Blvd. Bethlehem, PA 18020 – open from 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Rotunda of the Government Center – 669 Washington Street, Easton – open from 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

PENNSYLVANIA

Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar has reminded Pennsylvania voters that they can drop off their mail-in or absentee ballots at drop box locations, at their county election office or at another officially designated location until 8 p.m. on election day, Nov. 3.

“Drop boxes are a secure and convenient way for voters to drop off their ballots prior to or on election day,” said Secretary Boockvar. “I urge those who are voting by mail ballot this election to consider dropping off their ballot in person to ensure that it is received by their county on time.”

A list of ballot-return sites is available on votesPA.com.