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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

If You Still Have a MIB, Return Ballot to Drop Box

If you have requested and received a mail-in ballot, but have yet to send it in, I'd suggest you use a drop box at this point. The USPS has just told a federal judge that the Constitution imposes no requirement that ballots be timely delivered, and it's right. So most elections experts recommend that you hand deliver you ballot or use the drop boxes made available. 

Northampton County Drop Box 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.

Lehigh County Drop Box Locations (thanks to LVCI):

• District#1
o North Whitehall Township Building
o 3256 Levans Road, Coplay, PA 18037
o 610-799-3411
o M-F 7:30AM- 4PM

• District #2
o Upper Macungie Township Building
o 8330 Schantz Road, Breinigsville, PA 18031
o 610-395-4892
o M-F 7:30AM- 4PM

• District #3
o Catasauqua Municipal Building
o 90 Bridge Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032
o 610-264-0571
o M-F 8AM- 4PM

• District #4
o County Government Center
o 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
o 610 782-3194
o 24/7 at the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office

• District #5
o Emmaus Borough Office
o 28 South 4th Street, Emmaus, PA 18049
o 610-965-9292
o M-F 8AM-3PM

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Face it - the US Mail simply can not be trusted after what we learned Trump's buddy Postmaster General LeJoyless did to hobble it - at a time it was known it would need to be at the top of its game. It was reported that a huge sorting machine was torn out of the facility in Lehigh Valley, and scrapped.

Anyone who didn't figure out weeks ago that they needed to send their ballot at least a week ahead of time is not following the news. The Republicans are trying AGAIN to take away the 3 days after Election Day for ballots postmarked timely to be counted with the SCOTUS. They lost 4-4 a week ago, but with Barrett slammed on they are going back to the well. And the way things are going they will probably succeed. Every vote should count my ass. GOP are experts at voter suppression. If people when they hear this don't say "I need to not mail my ballot but return it another way at this point" then they deserve what they get. Thank you for the PSA - I wrote to the Express Times today to tell them they should post the same advice.

Mail delivery has become very slow over the last month - consistent with pictures of crates of mail piling up at post offices.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Bernie, for this very important civic message!

Anonymous said...

Is there a limit to how many ballots can be dropped by one person?

Anonymous said...

Easy and quick at the 911 Center yesterday, although the driveway is a little rough due to construction next door. Inside front door to the immediate left. There's a security camera trained on a sturdy steel drop box. I didn't encounter a soul. How can I know my vote was actually counted, though? I imagine voter rolls can be accessed afterwards? Just curious. I wouldn't have voted this way if I didn't trust the process. But it's always good to trust, but verify as some old politician once said.

Anonymous said...

If tried to warn readers the expansion of mail-in voting, particularly EARLY voting has the potential to destroy the validity of next week’s election. This nation is unprepared to deal with such a rapid easing of standards of control. This WAS pre-planned.

Wouldn’t surprise me if millions of citizens who already voted would willingly change their vote if they could. So much shocking and compelling news is lingering under the cover of media fog. Please try hard to find it before you vote. It’s out there.

Anonymous said...

Getting to the dropoff at Gracedale is a real picnic.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"The Republicans are trying AGAIN to take away the 3 days after Election Day for ballots postmarked timely to be counted with the SCOTUS. They lost 4-4 a week ago, but with Barrett slammed on they are going back to the well. And the way things are going they will probably succeed. "

My guess is they do not. First, the court has already addressed this in Pa. Second, the state decision was based on state constitution and state law. Third, my guess is Justice Barrett will recuse herself from all election cases. Fourth, the court is historically reluctrant to take up an election matter so close to the election.

We'll see.

Bernie O'Hare said...

". I didn't encounter a soul. How can I know my vote was actually counted, though? I imagine voter rolls can be accessed afterwards?Z"

You will get an email advising you that they have your ballot.

Anonymous said...

Ballots should have to be there by November 3, not weeks later.

Anonymous said...

Vote early, vote often! You have to admit Bernie, this looks like ballot harvesting:

https://www.facebook.com/NorthamptonCountyGOP/photos/pcb.3797511380260345/3797507296927420/

Anonymous said...

Why would/should Barrett recuse? Two other Trump appointees serve as well. Why is her situation different from theirs? How about the justices who were appointed by the Obama-Biden administration? She serves constitutionally, at this point. SCOTUS is not a super-legislature, despite the way progressives view it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Justice Barrett would recuse herself to prevent the appearance of impropriety. It is true that two other Trump appointees serve. What taints her is Trump's contention that he was selecting her to make sure the election goes his way. You have him to thank. Your fearless leader poisoned her. This has nothing to do with being a super-legislature. It has everything to do with impartiality and independence. That is why I believe she would recuse herself. I believe she could still be fair, but would likely step aside to avoid even the appearance that wshe is biased.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Vote early, vote often! You have to admit Bernie, this looks like ballot harvesting:

https://www.facebook.com/NorthamptonCountyGOP/photos/pcb.3797511380260345/3797507296927420/"


It looks like it is illegal, but is likely not ballot harvesting. What is happening is that usually the husband or wife will drop off the ballots for everyone within a family. You'll notice that person was holding three ballots. If that is ballot harvesting, he's not very good at it. Also, you do not know what the voter's declaration says. That person may have been designated to assist a voter who was unable to appear in person. I know several people who brought in ballots for their family. I told them they should not have done it that way, but it is not ballot harvesting. The evil being aimed at is party bosses who gather large numbers of ballots and even fill them out. That is not what that picture shows.

You are beginning to look desperate.

Anonymous said...

I'd like a good lawyer to explain ballot harvesting. Offense intended.

Anonymous said...

Barrett will not recuse herself nor should she, It is just the first attempt to intimidate and influence the the supreme court. We did need to fill this seat so that real decision could be made, not the decisions of some lower court.

As far as adding justices in the future, that will be a red line and we can then assume that the government of the United states is being overthrown from within. It will then be the duty of all citizens to take appropriate action.

Anonymous said...

Someone should be monitoring these boxes, then it would not be an issue.

Anonymous said...

You admit it is illegal, yet you label anyone who points it out as desperate. It should not be happening, because it puts doubt in the citizens minds.

Anonymous said...

So he had three ballots in his hand show more pictures to prove that he ony dropped three in the box. Maybe more in the bag he is holding?

Anonymous said...

A good indicator of “desperate” during the election process is cheating to win at all costs. Even so far as to bring down this nation. ‘Ya think we might just see that?

Bernie O'Hare said...

I do not admit it is illegal. I admit it looks like it is illegal, but appearances can be deceiving. Like I said, I know some people are innocently bringing in ballots for family members and I do not consider that ballot harvesting. If a husband takes his and his wife's ballot to the mailbox, you could argue that is ballot harvesting, but it is not. There should be a request for assistance on the voter's declaration. You don't know it's not there, and I presume people are acting lawfully. Your photo is evidence of nothing. If this person had 30 or 40 ballots, you'd have a point.

The drop off box is monitored, but I think it is mostly to guard against attempts to vandalize. If you are suggesting someone should be there to check each ballot, I think you are starting to interfere. Let people vote.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"We did need to fill this seat so that real decision could be made, not the decisions of some lower court."

The US S Ct has already refused to consider this matter once. The only change is the addition of a new Justice.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Any justice, judge or magistrate of the United States shall disqualify himself [or herself] in any proceeding in which his [or her] impartiality might reasonably be questioned." 28 U.S.C. § 455(a).

Anonymous said...

ACB stated under oath that she would be impartial. Judges are not political. I've read that here at least 167 times. Are you calling her (and every other justice before her) a liar or expecting her to lie? That's funny because that's what most people think about all lawyers - including you. I sense some projection here.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I by no means am suggesting she is a liar. I would have voted for her bc she is impeccably qualified. But precisely bc she is impartial, I believe she will recuse herself. Your inability to discuss this without getting personal tells us all we need to know about you.

Bernie O'Hare said...

If she fails to recuse herself, that's fine by me, too. This is her decision. I believe that however she decides, she will be impartial.

Anonymous said...

@11:11 AM "As far as adding justices in the future, that will be a red line and we can then assume that the government of the United states is being overthrown from within. It will then be the duty of all citizens to take appropriate action."

Wait a second, what "Red line"? I thought it has been established recently that if one party controls the Senate AND the White House, political norms and traditions do not have to be followed or observed. It's more of a whatever suits that particular parties wants or needs. When did this suddenly change? Republicans got Gorsuch and ACB, you're happy with that right? Why wouldn't you think Dems won't bend norms and traditions if they have the power?

It won't be a government overthrow if that's what the elected officials do, because THEY ARE the government. Your Keyboard Kandyass hinting at "action" will be interesting to see.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The comment at 11:11 is garbage.

Anonymous said...

Sorry the elected officials are not the government, they are elected to represent the people and are sworn to obey the constitution. If they do not conform to the restrictions of the constitution then they are illegitimate.

Anonymous said...

@2:42 PM "THEY ARE THE GOVERNMENT". Exactly where do you live in the Kremlin?

Anonymous said...

@5:45 - Oh, jeez, lets play word games and semantics, you know what I meant... And where in the Constitution does it say anything about size of the Supreme court? McConnell has already illustrated and exploited the vagueness of who, how and when appointments are made. SO, *IF* the citizens of this country elect Biden and replace enough Republican Senators next week, they will have been granted effective control of the government by a majority of the country. I am sure if they do something OUTSIDE of what the Constitution allows, then yes, lawsuits will ensue, but as to the original point about a red line of expanding the court, or changing Senate rules or adding states to the union, they'll be able to do that. Not saying it'll be fun for Republicans, it never is when the other team is using their elected powers to do things you don't agree with or think is fair. The question is why would you be surprised that there would be a consequence for sitting on Garland, then ramming thru ACB? Partisanship sucks, yet everyone chooses and cheers for only one side.

Anonymous said...

I hope they try to pack the court. It polls at about 32% nationally. Less than half of democrats think it's a good idea. It will result in splitting the democrat party and a lot of infighting within the party. The result will be a 2022 blowout for R's because they won't have the albatross of Trump around their neck.

In the meantime, Coney Barrett is now polling over 50% because of her slam dunk performance during the hearings. Regardless of your politics, reasonable people see a super smart, decent human being that has great judicial temperament.