Every election cycle, Northampton County's elections office conducts what amounts to three elections. First, mail-in balloting enables a voter to apply for and either mail in his choice for various offices or drop off his ballot at one of seven secure ballot boxes throughout the county. Second, ballot-by-demand enables a voter to appear at the elections or a satellite office, request his ballot and complete it on the spot. Third, there's traditional in-person voting at precincts on election day. Now, elections registrar Chris Commini is proposing a fourth election. At a special meeting of the elections commission yesterday, he sought a blessing for "pop up voter service events to expand access for voters in Northampton County ahead of the 2026 primary election."
Commini said that pop-up voter services are the same as that provided with ballot-by-demand at the county or satellite offices, but at different locales. People can register to vote, complete a mail-in ballot application, receive their ballot and either drop it off or take home for review. A $40 drop box will be available and will be returned to the elections office by deputy sheriffs. These services would exist until May 12, the last day on which mail-in ballots can be requested.
The two locations under consideration are Lafayette College and Northampton Community College. While this might make it easier for students to register and vote, it will be difficult for the elderly or handicapped to walk the rather large parking lots at Northampton Community College or to find convenient parking at Lafayette. So it's really no service to the elderly. But if the pilot program is successful in this year's primary, Commini noted that these services could be offered at numerous fairs and festivals with a more diverse audience. I'd suggest that it be offered at area nursing homes and senior housing as well. Solicitor Michael Vargo and Commini both noted that Montgomery County uses a van as a satellite office for ballot by demand at different events.
The sole Commissioner to vote No to this proposal was Scott Hough. "I'm worried about security and I'm worried about fairness," he said. Since the pop-up event would be manned by existing staff and the mobile drop box would be transported by deputy sheriffs, it appears that this is secure. But fairness? In a primary, pop-up services that target two colleges might adversely impact more conservative Democrats. And in a general election, pop-up services that are limited to colleges would be a boon to Democrats and would hurt Republicans. For that reason, it would be important to have locations that attract Republicans.
On top of this concern is Murphy's Law. If something can go wrong, it will. In recent years, we've had machine failures, ballot issues and voters who have received ballots for the wrong district. I am far from confident that this is the right time and would be more comfortable with this laudable effort to increase access if we could first pull of one or two elections without too many issues. Perhaps that is never possible.
According to Commini, NorCo would be the first county to offer pop-up voter services. Solicitor Michael Vargo and Commini both noted that Montgomery County uses a van as a satellite office for ballot by demand at different events.
This concept is NOT ready for prime time. Stop making voting so easy and lasting over such a long period of time. All we are doing with these schemes is over-stressing the system, leading increased opportunities for mistakes and CHEATING.
ReplyDeleteAs it is in America, we DO have voting connected to the internet using machines that CAN be hacked and results changed. We DO have election workers relying on dirty Voter Roll Books, etc.
Step back from your little, perceived local experience and understand that election cheating in America is REAL. Despite what most news media tells you, our entire system has flaws that can, and have been exploited. The methods we already use around the nation need a deep cleaning. Focus there first!
APRIL FOOL DUMBASS>>>>>APRIL FOOL HA HA HA DUMBASS
DeleteI smell a rat from the party that opposes voter ID. And why ban ICE from voting locations when we're constantlyy told illegals aren't voting? Cheating has a name. It's called Democrat.
ReplyDeleteDems will stoop to anything to win. I'm surprised they are not placing the boxes at cemeteries - that's where they get most of their votes.
ReplyDeleteI agree- anything to stack the deck. The Dems are masters at the game!
DeleteDo you guys ever get tired of posting the same old nonsense?
DeleteApparently not.
Pop up voting at a community college where most kids drive to get to school? Please!
ReplyDeleteHappy April Fools Day!! I'm calling shenanigans......
ReplyDeleteIs this a mechanism to accomplish the effect of illegal gerrymandering by adding a mobile feature with a pretext of neutrality by setting up the stations in public places where your party is in the majority?
ReplyDeleteWhy not? There are pop-up fireworks tents, pop-up flower sales, pop-up Tupperware parties. Something as important as elections and voting is on par with the guy who's got the "buy 2 fireworks, get 1 free" deal going on in the convenience store parking lot.
ReplyDeletemy America doesn't have pop-up tupperware parties. just saying...
DeleteThis is 100% Tara trying to help her boss Lamont. This has nothing to do with helping the community it has to do with trying to get the far left extreme to vote. Get young people who are probably misinformed but will sign up and vote because their friends told them too. Or to feel like part of the group. And just the lazy ones that won't walk to there poling places. They are young and somewhat smart if in higher education that they can figure out the mail in ballots. Or get up and goto their poling place that day. They are just fishing for votes. It is truly disgusting what our elections have turned into.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tara is more and more a disappointment everyday.
Well northampton County you a opportunity to have a independent County executive but nope whet with McClure 2.SH-T. It hasn't even been a year yet.
In the primary, I see this as providing no advantage to anyone. The general is a different story.
DeleteIf you can have the government turn out the vote in one spot for a candidate that’s getting out-worked by another candidate, it can certainly be an advantage. Even in a primary election.
DeleteThey can't handle what they have. Just another opportunity to mess up another election
ReplyDeleteLet's see if they can handle the frog crossing first.
ReplyDeleteBeing 1 April, I thought this was a joke but then realized Nor-co governance is a joke the other 364 days a year, too.
ReplyDeleteSo let's teach young college students one more easy way to do something. Voting is a privilege and requires little time for youn g abled bodied students! And of course maybe primarily dem vote is the key here. FYI. Nursing homes etc have regulations re voting and all capable residents have an avenue for voting. Insanity continues....
ReplyDeleteDriving is a privilege. Voting is a right.
DeleteYou are technically of course correct t but I see our rights as privileges too.... grateful appreciated dont take for granted ....
DeleteI understand that college students are really stupid and that anyone can get a degree these days. But stooping to the lowest common intellectual denominator is a terrible idea. Past generations built the world. Current generations build lattes and serve expensive cookies.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this has to be a joke, right? The people at the elections office can't be that stupid; the impetus must be coming from County Commissar Tzara or the dum-dums on county council.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the meeting, Commini said it was the administration's idea. I believe it could work and be fair, but it would have to focus on places where a wide variety of voters could be attracted, not just college students.
DeleteI would like to see Northampton County get through at least one election cycle (primary and general) with no major screwups before we add a new function like this to the election cycle.
ReplyDeleteBingo! They have had incidents every cycle.
DeleteWith Amy Hess no longer with elections, they're going to have a tough time with just the basics, let alone new voting initiatives...
ReplyDeleteConcern still exists with the ESS voting machines that have been in storage awaiting
ReplyDeleteUnwrapping for upcoming elections. Let’s see if the same group of machines can be programmed properly this time around without error or screen issues.
I wonder how many of the participants at the recent silly "No King's" Day' marches are too busy to show up in person at the polls.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, participants at those rallies vote, and if they had to, would crawl through barbed wire to vote. Don't blame them for using a method that eliminates standing in 7-hour lines. You can go ahead and do that. You do you.
DeleteThe administration recommended this. That says it all. A little over a month a it’s now being thought of. I smell a DemocRAT. And colleges are the most leftist liberal around. They are probably getting passing grades from their professors if they prove they voted. 🤣🤣
ReplyDeletePA.GOV
ReplyDeletewww.pa.gov › agencies › vote
Upcoming Elections | Voting & Election Information ... - PA.GOV
May 19, 2026, is the Primary Election Polls are open on election day from 7 A.M. - 8 P.M. Last day to register to vote: May 4, 2026 Last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot: May 12, 2026 Learn about Primary Election
The last day to register is May 4th, so if you show up at this mobile location after that how can you register and vote the same day?
ReplyDelete