From NorCo's Elections Office: The Northampton County Elections Office is providing a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Absentee and Mail-in ballots for the General Election on November 5, 2024.
Can I vote by an absentee or mail-in ballot rather than going to the polls on November 5th?
Yes, Act 77, which was passed in 2017, allows for no excuse mail-in voting. Applications for mail-in or civilian absentee ballots are available in the Elections Office on the Lower Level of the Government Center, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA, 18042, or you can apply online at www.vote.pa.gov
Who can apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot?
Only registered voters can apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot. The last day to register for the General Election is October 21, 2024. You can register at the Elections Office until 8:00 PM that night or file an online application at www.vote.pa.gov by 11:59 PM. Your registration is not complete until it is processed and accepted by the County voter registration office.
How do I apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot?
You can apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot apply in person at the Elections Office by 5:00 PM on October 29th or online at www.vote.pa.gov by 11:59 PM on October 29th. The ballot will be sent to you via the U.S. Postal Service.
How do I vote by Ballot-on-Demand?
Fill out an application at the Election Office on the Lower Level of the Government Center at 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042. You will be asked to provide an ID before receiving your ballot.
* Monday, October 21st to Friday, October 25th (8:30 AM – 8:00 PM)
*Saturday, October 26th (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
*Monday, October 28th (8:30 AM – 8:00 PM)
*The deadline to vote by Ballot-on-Demand is Tuesday, October 29th (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM)
Why did I get an email saying my application for a mail-in ballot had been declined?
There are various reasons this may happen: duplicate applications, lack of verifiable ID, etc. Also, local groups send out unsolicited voter registration and mail-in ballot applications, confusing some voters into applying more than once. If you are concerned about any of these issues or have questions, contact the Elections Office at 610-829-6260 or election@norcopa.gov for assistance.
I forgot if I applied for a mail-in or absentee ballot and how will I know if it’s been sent or received?
You can check the status of your ballot application and if your ballot has been sent or received at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/ballottracking.aspx
I sent my ballot, but I have questions about how to properly complete it.
For any questions contact the Elections Office at 610-829-6260 or election@norcopa.gov
How do I know my mail-in or absentee ballot will be counted?
To be counted, all ballots must be received by the Elections Office by 8:00 PM on Election Day, November 5th. Postmarks will not count!
The ballot MUST be sealed inside the YELLOW 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 in the YELLOW highlighted boxes.
Does Northampton County “cure” ballots?
Yes, Northampton County has processes in place to make an attempt to cure all ballots with an identifiable and curable defect. Curing is the process undertaken by Elections Office to uniformly screen and review all Mail-in and Absentee ballots and identify ballots that have a defect that would prevent that ballot from being counted. The Elections Office screens for the following defects: missing signature, missing or incomplete date, incomplete ballot packages (such as missing secrecy envelope or ballot) determined by a ballot sorter screening for thickness. Every voter with a defective ballot is contacted by the Elections Office staff and is provided an opportunity to appear in person at the Elections Office and correct their ballot.
What if I made a mistake by filling in the wrong bubble on my ballot?
If you still have your ballot contact the Elections office at 610-829-6260 or election@norcopa.gov for guidance.
How do I return my absentee or mail-in ballot to be counted in the General Election?
Ballots can be returned directly to the Northampton County Elections Office on the Lower Level of the Government Center, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042. State Law requires that voters only drop off their own ballot. If you come into the office you may be asked for your ID. If you drop off someone else’s ballot, you must have a Designated Agent form on file at the Elections office. A copy of the form can be downloaded at www.vote.pa.gov
You can return your ballot via the U.S. mail; postage is included on the return envelope so it isn’t necessary to add a stamp. If you mail your ballot, it is recommended you send it no later than October 26th.
Ballots can also be returned to one of the seven secure ballot drop boxes located around the County.
Where are the seven secure drop off boxes in Northampton County?
Accessing drop-off boxes does not require going through security at any location. Ballots MUST be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. Postmarks will not count!
Northampton County Courthouse (Rotunda):
669 Washington St., Easton, PA 18042
o Monday-Friday from 8:30am-8:00pm
o Saturdays: Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, Oct. 26 (from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm)
o When dropping off a ballot, voters can park for free in the loading-and-unloading zone on Washington Street in front of the Courthouse or use the parking lot at the Wolf Avenue and Washington Street intersection.
o ELECTION DAY HOURS: 7:00am – 8:00pm
Northampton County Human Services Building (Main Entrance Vestibule):
2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18020
o Monday-Friday from 8:30am-7:00pm
o Saturdays from 8:00am-2:00pm
o ELECTION DAY HOURS: 8:30am – 7:00pm
Northampton County 911 Center (Main Entrance Vestibule):
100 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA 18064
o Open 24/7
o ELECTION DAY HOURS: Open until 8:00pm
Bethlehem City Hall (Main Lobby):
10 E. Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
o Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm
o ELECTION DAY HOURS: 7:00am-8:00pm
Washington Township Municipal Building (Main Entrance Vestibule):
1021 Washington Blvd., Bangor, PA 18013
o Monday-Thursday from 7:00am-4:00pm
o Fridays from 7:00am-3:00pm
o ELECTION DAY HOURS: 7:00AM - 3:00pm
East Allen Township Municipal Building (Main Lobby):
5344 Nor Bath Blvd., Northampton, PA 18067
o Monday-Friday from 8:30am-3:30pm
o ELECTION DAY HOURS: 8:30AM - 3:30pm
NCC Fowler Family Southside Center (Main Lobby):
511 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem, PA 18015
o Monday-Thursday from 7:00am-9:00pm
o Fridays from 7:00am-8:30pm
o Saturdays from 7:00am-2:00pm
o ELECTION DAY HOURS: 7:00AM - 8:00pm
Is there any way to know how far behind the elections office is with getting mail ballots out? I know more than one person in Norco who filled out their online vote-by-mail application over a week ago (and did get a confirmation email afterward, so it was submitted properly) whose requests haven't even been processed/approved yet, let alone actually mailed out. Entirely anecdotal obviously, maybe atypical for some reason, but it makes me worried the office is overwhelmed and there will be people who don't get their ballots with sufficient time to send it back to arrive before Nov 5th.
ReplyDelete10:02, The office was completely up to date last time I checked. But as election day grows closer, I'd call if I do not my MIB a week after getting the email telling me my application has been processed and approved. Also, at this point, I'd take the MIB to a drop box.
DeleteTo follow up, I talked to my friend who completed an online mail ballot application on Oct 16th. They told me they called the county elections office yesterday and a worker there said they need to wait, the office is still processing applications that came in on Oct 13th. If that's true, they're a week and half behind schedule and I'm really concerned there are going to be lots of people who don't get their ballot with any time to actually return it. Is there some way to get more info on this?
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