Northampton County

Election office extends hours

Elections Office officials announced that they are expanding their office hours prior to the Nov. 8 General Election. Starting Monday, Oct. 10, the Elections Office are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Extended hours will end Oct. 31.

The deadline to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot or vote by ballot-on-demand is 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.

The Elections Office is located in the Lower Level of the Government Center at 669 Washington St., Easton.

Ballot-on-demand now available

The Northampton County Elections Office announced that Ballot-on-Demand voting for the Nov. 8 General Election are now available. Citizens can vote in person at the Government Center at 669 Washington Street, Easton, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Ballot-on-Demand voting hours will end Nov. 1 at 5 p.m.

Residents of Northampton County who are eligible to vote can come to the Elections Office, register if they have not already, fill out a ballot application, vote on a paper ballot and turn it in all in the same visit. Showing ID is required before you can receive your ballot.

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. The Elections Office began mailing ballots out Oct. 3.

Mail in ballots available

The Elections Office began sending mail-in ballots out through the United States Postal Service for the Nov. 8 General Election on Oct. 3. Anyone who wants to vote by mail must apply by 5 p.m. Nov. 1. Applications for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballots are available in the Elections Office or at www.vote.pa.gov Voters can check the status of their ballot at that website.

Mail-in ballots must meet the following criteria to be counted.

·The ballot must be sealed inside the secrecy envelope

·If the secrecy envelope contains any text, marks or symbols which reveal the identity of the elector, the elector’s political affiliation or the elector’s candidate preference, the envelope and the ballot it contains will be set aside and declared void

·The voter must sign and date the outer return envelope

·The ballot must be received by the Elections Office by 8 p.m. Nov. 8.

Voters can return mail-in ballots by bringing them directly to the Elections Office at the Government Center, 669 Washington Street, Easton, by using one of the county’s four secure ballot drop-off boxes or through the U.S. mail. The envelopes include postage so voters do not need to add a stamp.

Secure ballot drop-off boxes will be available starting Oct. 10 until 8 p.m. on Nov. 8.

·Rotunda of the Government Center – 669 Washington St., Easton.

Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

·Human Services Building – 2801 Emrick Blvd. Bethlehem.

Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

·Northampton County 911 Center – 100 Gracedale Ave. Nazareth

Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

·Bethlehem City Hall – 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem

Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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