EASTON, Pa. - Northampton County voters can soon return mail-in ballots to drop boxes.
Hours vary from site to site, but at least one dropbox will be available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays from Oct. 10 to Nov. 8, Election Day. Voters can still return ballots in person to the county elections office, which will open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through the end of October. The office will also open for the two Saturdays before Election Day.
- Northampton County Government Center Rotunda - 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Human Services Building - 2801 Emrick Blvd. Bethlehem, PA 18020, Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Northampton County 911 Center -100 Gracedale Ave. Nazareth, PA 18064, Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Bethlehem City Hall - 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
- Northampton County Elections Office – 669 Washington Street Easton, PA 18042, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
“Having a drop box so that we could have citizens drop off their ballots in locations that are part of the county, and we could pick them up directly, was perhaps the most secure, most direct way for citizens to participate in the electoral process,” Northampton County Director of Administration Charles Dertinger said.
Northampton County has mailed out around 30,000 ballots so far, he said, and expects to get roughly the same number back by the time polls close on Election Day. That would be a drop from a high of around 80,000 in 2020, during the height of the pandemic.
Ballots that are dropped off must be enclosed in the secrecy envelope, inserted in the signed return envelope, and delivered to the county by Nov. 8 for it to count.
State election code stipulates voters may only return their own ballot, unless they are the certified designated agent of someone with a disability or voting through emergency absentee, with a signed copy of the appropriate form from the elections office.
The deadline to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot, or to vote by ballot-on-demand, is 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 1.
"No one will have a reason not to have voted"Charles Dertinger, Northampton County Director of Administration
“No one will have a reason not to have voted,” Northampton County Director of Administration Charles Dertinger said, “Because we’re going to make sure that whatever they need we are meeting those requirements, whether it’s voting at the polls, voting in advance or voting ballot-on-demand.”
During his 2023 budget proposal address earlier this week, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said proposed plans for future elections include $131,000 in additional funds to upgrade voting equipment. In a statement, McClure said it will help “maintain safe and secure elections.”
This will be the first election overseen by Registrar Christopher Commini, who took the post following the primary election in May. It was previously held by current Deputy Registrar Amy Hess who recently replaced Amy Cozze, who left the job in March.
