NorCo Exec McClure on Election: "We Got This for You!"

Exec McClure: "We got this for you!" 

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has done his best to undermine public confidence in Pennsylvania's upcoming Presidential election. His campaign sued unsuccessfully to prevent the use of drop boxes to collect mail-in ballots. It also accused Democrats of attempting to steal the election in Luzerne County, even though it's run by Republicans. To that end, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure called a news conference yesterday to assure voters that, "in our little corner of the world," the November 3 election will be safe and secure. "You can trust that your votes will matter," he said. "Stay calm, and vote. We got this for you. Your vote will count." He then outlined the different ways to vote.

Voting at Precinct on Election Day. - If you want to vote in person at your precinct on election day, there are 154 polling precincts with 315 Express Vote XL touchscreen voting device. This voting system combines the simplicity of touch screen voting with the important redundancy of a voter-verifiable paper trail. (You can find your polling place here.) McClure is asking voters who choose this option to wear a mask. Poll workers will be required to do so.

Mail-in and Absentee Ballot Applications. - Up until October 27, you can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot. The application form is located online. You can also get one at the voter registration office, which is now open from 8:30 am until 8 pm on weekdays and from 8 am until noon on Saturdays. Voter Registrar Amy Cozze has received and approved 63,000 applications thus far, and mailed out 30,000 ballots on Monday. She expects to have all ballots in the mail by week's end.

The ballots will come with two envelopes. One is a secrecy envelope in which you must place your ballot. That secrecy envelope goes into an outer envelope that includes a voter's declaration. This must be completed if you want your vote to count. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered elections officials to reject ballots unless they are inside a secrecy envelope. This is what is known as a "naked ballot." In addition, the Supreme Court has ruled that, if the outer envelope is unsigned with a voter's declaration, the vote must go uncounted.

Cozze had previously predicted there would be 100,000 requests for absentee ballots, but said that interest in them has diminished. McClure attributes this to "the President's rhetoric and the decisions that have been made at the upper echelons of the US Postal Service have undermined some folks' confidence in the postal system." He has confidence, however, that the postal service will get ballots back in time. Moreover, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has imposed a three-day extension on mailed ballots until November 6. 

A person who has received a mail-in ballot can change his mind and decide to vote at the polls. If he does, he must bring both his mail-in ballot and the envelopes to his voting precinct. This requirement prevents a double-vote.  The mail-in ballot will be voided and the voter will then be permitted to vote on the Express Vote XL.

Administrator Charles Dertinger, minus his
ubiquitous bowtie.  

Drop-Boxes. - In the primary, there was one drop-box location at the county government center in Easton. Administrator Charles Dertinger advised that, starting October 1, there will be four drop-boxes located at the following locations:

1) Bethlehem City Hall's Plaza Entrance (10 E Church St, Bethlehem, pa. 18018) from 8 am until 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

2) Northampton County Government Center (669 Washington St, Easton, Pa. 18042) rotunda from 8:30 am until 8 pm, Monday thru Friday, and on Saturdays from 8 am until noon.

3) Northampton County's Human Services Building (2801 Emrick Blvd, Bethlehem, Pa. 18020) from 8:30 am until 7 pm, Monday through Friday.

4) Northampton County's 911 Center (100 Gracedale Avenue, Nazareth Pa 18064), from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

These locations correspond with the four county districts. Free parking is available at all four locations. Each drop box is monitored by surveillance cameras and will be emptied daily by Deputy Sheriffs who will be sworn in and will also complete daily forms to preserve the chain of custody. The ballots are delivered to the Registrar, who will secure them in a locked vault until election day, when canvassing can begin.

Early Voting (Ballot by Demand). - McClure noted that, if you have no desire to stand in long lines on election day and distrust mail-in ballots, you can vote now by coming to the courthouse and requesting as ballot. This is known as early voting.   After filling out the necessary paperwork, the elections office will provide you with both a ballot and a location in which you can vote in privacy.

This option is available from 8;30 am until 8 pm, Monday thru Friday, and on Saturdays  from 8 am until noon. McClure noted there will be long lines on election day and the more people who vote at the courthouse, the less people will have to stand in line.

No Need For UN Observers. - McClure dismissed Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley's request for UN observers at the polls. "We don't need UN observers in Northampton County," he remarked.

Given the numerous ways in which a person can vote, McClure there really is no excuse for failing to vote on November 3.  Council President Ron Heckman added that Council has approved close to $5 million for the best voting machines, epollbooks and added personnel.

"It's a bedrock responsibility," he said.