NorCo GOP Threatens Litigation if Two Additional "Ballot By Demand" Stations Are Established

Thanks to recent changes in state law, county elections offices actually conduct three elections instead of just one. First, you can vote at your polling station on election day. Second, you can request a mail-in ballot (MIB) and vote by mail or by dropping your ballot off at one of several drop box locations. Finally, you can get a "ballot by demand" from the county elections office, fill it out and drop it off once MIBs are available. At their June meeting, NorCo's elections commission authorized the administration to pursue the establishment of two additional "ballot by demand" stations in South Bethlehem and Washington Township. The vote was 3-2, with Democrats supporting two additional stations and Republicans opposed. NorCo Republicans have now threatened to sue if these stations are actually established. 

Charles Baltic, an attorney who resides in Upper Mount Bethel and is a committee member, told the Commission that the establishment of two additional satellite offices is contrary to election law. "Should the commission or the county elections department move forward with this plan to establish one or more satellite county election offices, litigation to prevent this will be forthcoming," he warned.

Baltic's sentiments were echoed by Glenn Geissinger, who apparently is still the NorCo GOP chair and has yet to move to Schuylkill County as its new Finance Director. Geissinger also claimed that these satellite offices are illegal. "You have essentially authorized this administration to place an on demand voting location without any kind of empirical data in a precinct that is 80-20 in its Democrats to Republican registration, you have done it without any kind of parameters on its openings, the security of ballots or the integrity of the vote. It is an abominable assault on our democracy. Period."

Solicitor Michael Vargo advised the elections commission that he believes these satellite office locations are legal and would prepare a memo outlining his reasoning. 

County Administrator Nicole Pietrzak said that Washington Tp Supervisors have yet to vote on establishing a satellite office there, and that the county and Fowler Center in South Bethlehem are still considering whether a satellite office there is feasible.

In his report, Elections Registrar Chris Commini noted the following:

Last day to register - October 20.

Last day to apply for MIB or on demand voting - October 28, 5 pm

Last day to return MIBs - November 4, 8 pm.

Election Day - November 4. If you are in line by 8 pm, you must be permitted to vote. 

Canvassing the Vote (Official Tally) - starts November 7

Registered voters - 227,887.

MIB enrollees - 27,069. 

Election Day - November 4.

He had a message for voters as well. If you have any concerns about your registration, polling location or status of a MIB, contact a trusted source.

These are (1) the Northampton County Elections Division at 610-829-6260 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday; (2) The Department of State website, which is vote.pa.gov, or (3) you can call the Department of state at 1-877-868-3772.