FAQ Elections

Complete instructions and access to online and printable forms are available at
https://www.vote.pa.gov/Register-to-Vote/Pages/How-to-Register-to-Vote.aspx.
Online application form https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx

Complete instructions and access to online and printable forms are available at
https://www.vote.pa.gov/Register-to-Vote/Pages/How-to-Register-to-Vote.aspx.
Online application form https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx

Election date and deadlines for Registering to Vote, Applying to Vote by Mail, Voting in Person, Returning Your Mail Ballot, etc., can be found on the Election Calendar page.

Act 77 legislation was passed in Pennsylvania in 2019, creating a new option to vote by mail without needing an excuse. Absentee ballots will still be used for individuals who qualify.
You will need to apply for a Mail-In Ballot. The ballot and instructions will then be mailed to you by the county election office. You may apply on line or by mail. Identification is required. You can track the progress of your application and ballot on line.
See detailed information:
Mail-in and Absentee Ballots
PA Government Information at vote.pa.gov

Voters may vote in person at the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office. Go to the Lehigh County Voter Office and request a mail ballot in person, you will fill out an application, then receive a ballot to complete and submit.
Additional Details for Lehigh County Voters
Additional information on voting early in-person, by mail-in or absentee ballot at vote.pa.gov

Lehigh County began using a paper ballot voting system in 2019. This system uses a two-sided paper ballot system that is straight forward and easy to use.

Voters sign in with an electronic signature screen pad, but are given a paper ballot to vote on. This involves using a pen to fill in an oval next to the names of the candidates chosen by the voter. Once the ballot is filled out, the voter feeds it into a machine that scans and records the ballot. The paper copy is immediately stored in a locked container inside the scanning machine. Voters who make an error on their paper ballot will be able to request a new ballot from a poll worker. This system will provide an auditable paper trail, which should provide the greatest integrity in the event of a recount. These machines are not connected in any way to the Internet and poll workers do not handle the completed ballots.

Visually impaired voters will still be able to vote on an electronic machine, specifically designed for that use, in every polling place.

Easy-to-follow illustrated instructions for the new system are available on the Lehigh County Website’s How to Vote page.

Watch Lehigh County Voter Registration’s Video Demonstration of the New Voting System

Lehigh County’s Link to Sample Ballots for All Precincts is available here.

See the Current Year’s Election for a List of Candidates under the LCDC Election Tab. The list includes links to candidate websites.

A Voter’s Guide for Lehigh and Northampton Counties, is prepared in cooperation with the League of Women Voters and is available in PDF form. Information provided for each position: candidates provide resume information and response to LWV question.

Lehigh County Voter Registration Office — Voter and Election Information

This form can only be completed by the voter. You may voluntarily cancel your voter registration by completing this form. Please mail or deliver to your county voter registration office. To find a list of these offices, please see page 2 of the file.
Cancel Registration Form – English

Go to the Public Office Election Year Lists page for documents listing the years that Federal and State Officials and County (County, Municipal and School District) Officials are on the ballot.

The first step for a candidate seeking election is the collection of signatures on nominating petitions. The number of signatures necessary to qualify, is determined by the office. The Number of petitions required can be found HERE on the Lehigh County government site, along with other listed nomination requirements.

Petition signing runs from mid-February through early March. (See each year’s election calendar published by Lehigh County for the specific dates).

Voter participation in this important first step helps to ensure our Democratic Candidates will be on the primary ballot. Look for announcements of Candidate Petition Signing Events and be aware that candidates may come to your door to collect signatures.

Specific rules must be followed in filling out nomination petitions. See Signing Candidates’ Petitons for more information.

Some offices permit cross-filing between parties for inclusion on the primary ballot. If you are asked to sign a candidate’s petition, ask about their party registration. Sign only petitions for Registered Democrats. More information about how cross-filing works can on this page — What is Cross Filing and what is the impact on the Primary Election? and How can I vote to benefit registered Democrats running for a seat with cross-filed candidates? 

Judicial elections occur in odd-numbered years. Justices and judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 and are retained or re-elected by the voters. However, retired judges may, if approved by the PA Supreme Court, continue to serve the Commonwealth as senior judges on a temporary basis. Vacancies that exist before an election may be filled by gubernatorial appointment until an election is held. These selections are subject to Senate confirmation.

APPELLATE COURT JUDGES — State Superior, Commonwealth and Supreme Court and trial court judges serving on the Courts of Common Pleas serve ten year terms. Candidates for Court of Common Pleas are permitted to cross-file in a primary election in order to appear on the ballots of both parties.

MERIT RETENTION — The Merit Retention provision of Pennsylvania’s constitution allows all but magisterial district judges to be retained with a simple “yes” or “no” vote without ballot reference to political affiliation. This provision was designed to remove judges from the pressures of the political arena once they begin their first term of office. Democratic Judges on the ballot for merit retention are listed on the current election page found under the Election tab. (If a judge’s name is not listed, they are not a registered Democrat.)

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUSTICES run in competitive elections, their party affiliation is referenced. Mandatory retirement age for judges is 75 years, but retired judges may, if approved by the Supreme Court, continue to serve the Commonwealth as senior judges. Magisterial judges serve six year terms. Candidates for Magisterial District Judge are permitted to cross-file in a primary election in order to appear on the ballots of both parties.

Cross-filing occurs when a candidate runs in the primary election of not only his/her own party, but also that of another party. Only the candidates for School Board, Magisterial District Justice, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas may cross file. Candidates for all other elected positions can only appear on the primary ballot of his/her party.

When you vote in the primary, you will be given a ballot with all of the candidates running for the various municipal offices. For those positions in which cross-filing is permitted, you will see the name of the person, but their party affiliation will not be indicated. The ballot will indicate the number of open seats in that position.

For example, the Judge Court of Common Pleas and District Justice has one open seat, the Ballot will instruct you to vote for one person. The School Board may have four open seats, the ballot will instruct you to vote for no more than four people. (Note that you are NOT REQUIRED to vote for four –see information in the next paragraph.)

The candidates who win the highest number of votes wins that party’s primary (whether they are a registered Democrat or a cross-filed Republican). In the case of four open seats, the candidates who obtain the first, second, third, and fourth highest number of votes wins that party’s primary. FOR THIS REASON WE RECOMMEND YOU VOTE ONLY FOR CANDIDATES WHO ARE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS. This will help ensure that your votes are not increasing the total number of votes obtained by cross-filed Republicans appearing on the Democratic Ballot.

The successful candidate(s) will appear on the ballot for the November municipal election as the candidate for the party whose primary nomination the candidate won. If a candidate wins both the Republican and Democratic primary, he or she runs unopposed in the general election.

To determine which cross-filed candidates in Lehigh County are REGISTERED DEMOCRATS, please refer to the Current Election Link under the LCDC Election Tab

The candidates who win the highest number of votes win that party’s primary. In the case of four open seats, the candidates who obtain the first, second, third, and fourth highest number of votes wins that party’s primary. FOR THIS REASON WE RECOMMEND YOU VOTE ONLY FOR CANDIDATES WHO ARE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS. This will help ensure that your votes are not increasing the total number of votes obtained by cross-filed Republicans appearing on the Democratic Ballot.

To determine which cross-filed candidates in Lehigh County are REGISTERED DEMOCRATS, please refer to the Current Election Link under the LCDC Election Tab

YES. A person may run for an office that has two different terms — a two year and a four year term. It is treated as running for different offices. The voter will see the candidate’s name on the ballot twice — once for each office. The voter may vote for the same person for each term. If the candidate wins both seats in the general election, the candidate chooses which seat he/she wants and the municipality fills the vacant office by appointment.

This is an elected position that runs every 4 years.* A Judge of Elections is paid $150 for the day, $10 for picking up the supplies on the Saturday before the election, and $20 for returning the supplies to the Voter Registration Office on election night, plus mileage (if you are out of the city of Allentown), and $10 if you attend a class.

The Judge of Elections is in charge of the polling site on Election Day and has the following responsibilities:

• Helps with the voting machines.
• Contacts each Election Board member prior to Election Day to check who is available to work then reports to the Election Board if there are any positions that need to be filled.
• Contacts the polling place prior to Election Day to find out how to get in and to be sure they have the necessary equipment set up for them.
• Picks up supplies at the Voter Registration Office the Saturday before the election.
• Must arrive at the polls before 6:15 a.m. in time to open up, and to set up the machines and tables for the voters. Everything must be ready by 7:00 a.m. when the polls open.
• Processes all paper work to be returned to the Board of Elections that same night.
• Helps to close the machines and process absentee ballots at the end of the day.
• Returns polling supplies to the Voter Registration Office after the polls close.
• May not go home on election night until all paper work and memory cards are delivered to the Voter Registration Office.

* If there is a vacancy during the four year period, the Board of Elections will appoint someone.

This is an elected position that runs every 4 years.*  Majority and Minority Inspectors are paid $135 for the day, plus $10 if they attend class. The candidate for this position who gets the most votes, is the Majority Inspector and the candidate with the second-highest number of votes, is the Minority Inspector.

Majority and Minority Inspectors assist with the operations of a polling place and have the following responsibilities:

• Must arrive at the polls no later than 6:15 a.m. to help set up for the voting to begin promptly at 7:00 a.m.
• Check the voters in at the poll books.
• Helps to process absentees and returns at the end of the day. May not leave until all paperwork is complete.
• The Minority Inspector keeps Envelope B, which holds a set of the election returns, for one year.
• The Minority Inspector appoints the Minority Clerk.

* If there is a vacancy during the four year period, the Board of Elections will appoint someone.

This is an position appointed by the Minority Inspector.* A Minority Clerk is paid $135 for the day, plus $10 if they attend class.

A Minority Clerk assists with the operations of a polling place and has the following responsibilities:

• Must arrive at the polls no later than 6:15 a.m. to help set up for the voting to begin promptly at 7:00 a.m. Keeps a Numbered List of Voters.
• Helps to process absentees and returns at the end of the day. May not leave until all paperwork is complete. 

* If there is a vacancy during the four year period, the Board of Elections will appoint someone.

Voting Machine Operator is appointed by the Board of Elections and paid $135 for the day, plus $10 if attend class. If you have never worked a voting machine before, a class is mandatory.

A Voting Machine Operator assists with the operations of a polling place and has the following responsibilities:

• Must arrive at the polls no later than 6:15 a.m. to help set up for the voting to begin promptly at 7:00 a.m.
• Answers all voting machine questions throughout the day, and helps with the operation of the machines to voters who are unfamiliar with the equipment.
• Helps to close the machines and process absentees and returns at the end of the day. May not leave until all the paper work is processed.

Source and Additional Information: Lehigh County Voter

Since 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of State has greatly intensified its election security efforts with increased monitoring, fortified voting system defenses, and added layers of protection to the commonwealth’s voter registration database.
For more information go to:  https://www.vote.pa.gov/About-Elections/Pages/Election-Security.aspx