PA House passes bill to give counties more time to count mail ballots

Election, Issues

“A House bill [HB 847] passed Wednesday in a party line vote would allow counties up to seven days before election day to open ballot envelopes and run ballots through scanning machines, though results would still be tabulated on the day of the election. Currently, counties cannot begin processing mail ballots until the morning of the election, which means counties with large numbers of mail ballots may need additional days to finish counting and report complete results.”

Read the full article in Spotlight, PA

This practical solution, that is in place in other states with mail ballot voting, makes election day less hectic for election workers. The sudden shift in totals, when mail ballots are added into the total results from the polling locations, creates the illusion that something peculiar is happening — helping to fuel election conspiracy rhetoric. Being able to pre-canvass would eliminate that perception.

Thirty-nine states and the Virgin Islands permit election officials to begin processing absentee/mail ballots prior to the election. Eight states and Washington, D.C., permit election officials to begin processing absentee/mail ballots on Election Day, but prior to the closing of the polls. Alabama, District of Columbia, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS! Let them know you think this bill is important!
PA Senators
Nick Miller, PA Senate 14 Let him know you think this bill is important and should be passed, without amendments, before the November election.

Jarrett Coleman, PA Senate 16 Let him know you think this bill is important and should be passed, without amendments, before the November election.

PA Representatives
Zachary Mako, PA House 183 (Voted No on HB 847 ) Ask him why he voted no on a simple one-issue bill that would enable county officials to process ballots more efficiently and help eliminate doubts about election integrity.

Ryan E. Mackenzie, PA House 187 (Voted No on HB 847 ) Ask him why he voted no on a simple one-issue bill that would enable county officials to process ballots more efficiently and help eliminate doubts about election integrity.

Michael H. Schlossberg, PA House 132 (Voted Yes on HB 847 ) Thank him for voting yes on this sensible bill.

2024 Primary Election Results

Election

You can find the results on the revamped Department of State returns website – electionreturns.pa.gov. You will be able to switch between statewide and county-level results. Unofficial totals may not be known by the end of the night, because of mail-in ballot counts and write-in votes.
Details in this article from Armchair Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh County Results by Precinct Select the “Precincts Reporting” tab at the top of the page

Additional Articles on the Primary Election Results:
Morning Call Primary Election Results Includes ballot referendums for Heidelberg & Whitehall (PASSED)
Morning Call Bob Casey and David McCormick to face off in high-stakes Pennsylvania Senate race
Morning Call Democrat Eugene DePasquale, Republican Dave Sunday to face off for attorney general in November
Morning Call Erin McClelland wins Democratic race for state treasurer
Morning Call Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley loses Democratic primary for PA auditor general
Morning Call How was voter turnout in the Lehigh Valley
Armchair Lehigh Valley Voter turnout in Lehigh Valley lighter than past primaries
Armchair Lehigh Valley Mackenzie wins GOP primary in 7th Congressional District
Morning Call Incumbent Zachary Mako wins GOP race for state House in 183rd

Delegates to the Democratic National Convention (Elected in the Primary)
Aidan Levinson, Captain
Anne Wakabayashi
Lori McFarland, Captain
Leslie M Altieri
Carmen A Bell
Baron Vanderburg
Julian Guridy
◇ Delegate Profiles ◇ The Democratic National Convention
◇ Pennsylvania Democratic Party Delegate Selection Plan ◇ PA Democratic State Committee

HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP REFERENDUM (Appeared on the BACK of Ballots in Heidelberg Township)
Do you favor the imposition, by Heidelberg Township, of an additional Earned Income Tax at the rate of 0.175% on an annual basis, for a TEN (10) year period beginning January 1, 2025, to be used for financing the acquisition, preservation, and conservation of open space; for the purpose of acquiring agricultural conservation and forest easements; and for the purpose of paying the attendant costs associated with such actions? YES or NO (See plain English explanation HERE) PASSED

The 2024 Election page has been updated with the November 5 ballot list of Democratic Candidates

Know Your Rights At The Polls On Primary Day, April 23

Election

The Shapiro Administration has issued a press release outlining voter rights and links to government resources in advance of the April 23 Primary Election. Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. You may still vote if you are in line by 8 pm.

Additional information for Upper Lehigh County Voters:
List of Democratic Candidates, with additional information about each candidate
Polling Place Changes
Find Your Polling Place
Mail Ballot Drop Box Locations

Shapiro Administration Urges Voters To Know Their Rights At The Polls On Primary Day, April 23

Polls Will Be Open 7 A.M. To 8 P.M.

Video: Spotlight PA, TRUSTING ELECTIONS: A live panel with PA’s top election official

Election

Video Now Available — April 2 Zoom Event. Al Schmidt, head of the Pennsylvania Department of State, joined Spotlight PA to discuss how his agency is working to create trust in our election system and combat misinformation. Schmidt will take audience questions. The event will also include a Q&A with a University of Pittsburgh researcher on how to spot election misinformation. Additional information about this event and the video are in the article linked below.

You can sign up for this Zoom via the link in Spotlight PA’s post:
Video Now Available Q&A with top Pa. elections official Al Schmidt

Polling Place Changes for April 23 Primary Election

Election, Uncategorized

Changes approved 3/11/2024 by Lehigh County Elections Board
► NORTH WHITEHALL DISTRICT 5 ◄
Grouse Hall Fish & Game, 3335 Levans Rd, Coplay 18037*

► UPPER MACUNGIE DISTRICT 5 ◄
Islamic Education Center, 6635 Tilghman St., Allentown 18106**

These changes were made in 2022
► UPPER MACUNGIE DISTRICT 1 ◄
ATAS International, Inc., 6612 Snowdrift Rd., Allentown 18106
► UPPER MACUNGIE DISTRICTS 7 & 8 ◄
Bible Baptist Church, 511 Farmington Rd, Breinigsville 18031

You can find your polling place/voting district information at PA VOTER SERVICES.
Under Voter Services → Find Your Polling Place → Enter address information
The polling place district will be identified above the polling place location. Directions to the polling place are also available.

More information at Find Your Polling Place

*Polling location changed due to renovations on the North Whitehall Township building. https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/parkland/north-whitehall-township-building-renovations-get-final-approval

**Polling location changed in order to provide voters with a better voting location.

Referendum on Heidelberg Primary Ballot

Election

Heidelberg Township Voters will be voting Yes or No to a proposed ordinance that would add an additional earned income tax rate of 0.175% for 10 years for the purpose of financing the acquisition, preservation, and conservation of open space; for the purpose of acquiring agricultural conservation and forest easements.

Here is the plain language explanation of the referendum:

April 8 – April 16 Voting Early in Person Available at Voter Registration Office

Election

Over-the-counter ballots will be available in the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office starting Monday through April 16, the state’s deadline to request a mail-in ballot. Over-the-counter ballots are mail-in ballots that residents can request at their county election office and turn in during the same visit. The ballots are only available to registered voters who have not requested a mail-in ballot already.
More information about Voting Early In Person

LEHIGH COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE
Lehigh County Government Center
17 South Seventh Street, Allentown 18101
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm
Extended Hours
April 13 Open 9 am-1 pm
April 16 Hours Extended 8 am – 5 pm

Mail Ballots Sent to Lehigh County Voters April 5

Election

The Lehigh County Voter Registration Office sent mail ballots to voters who applied to vote by mail in the April 23 Primary Election . If you do not receive your ballot within 7 days, please contact your county election office.

Our website has voting by mail information!
How to submit your ballot
How to return your ballot
How to track your ballot
Drop Box Locations
More information available FAQ Mail-in Voting

REMINDER — MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
►USE BOTH ENVELOPES
►SIGN AND DATE THE OUTER ENVELOPE
Click on image below to enlarge.

Annual Application for Mail-In Ballot Reminder

Election

All Voters Who Want to Vote by Mail Must Submit an Application Every Year,
Even If You Received Mail-in Ballots Last Year.

Apply Now For This Safe, Secure and Easy Way to Vote

Are You an “ANNUAL MAIL-IN or ABSENTEE VOTER” ?

Check Your Status for Current Year’s Elections HERE
After entering the requested information, you will see your Voter Status Record, which includes Voter Record Details and the question, “Are you an annual mail-in or absentee voter?”

If you are an Annual Mail-In or Absentee Voter, you will see:
YES
Being an annual mail-in or absentee voter means you will be mailed an application. You still need to complete and return that application or complete the application online to receive a mail ballot for all elections in which you are eligible to vote by mail during that calendar year.

If You Are Not an “ANNUAL MAIL-IN or ABSENTEE VOTER”
If you are not listed as an Annual Mail-In or Absentee Voter You Can Apply Several Ways:
▸Fill out the application on-line.
▸Go to Vote.pa.gov to download and print a paper application Mail-in ballot request form
▸Direct links to forms in: English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional
▸Submit an online request to have a form mailed to you
▸Call the Department of State at: 1-877-VOTES-PA (1-877-868-3772) and request a form be mailed to you
▸Print an Application Form from the Lehigh County Government Website
▸Contact or visit the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office for assistance
▸Lehigh County Voter Registration Office
▸Lehigh County Government Center
▸17 South Seventh St., Allentown, PA 18101-2400
▸Phone 610-782-3194
▸Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.   Monday — Friday

IMPORTANT DETAILS

For All Applicants:
Include Your Email Address on the application if you want to receive ballot status updates from the voter registration office.

Check the appropriate box if you would like to apply to receive mail-in ballots for the remainder of this year and if you would like to automatically receive an annual application for mail-in ballots each year.

For Voters on the Annual Voter List:
The Lehigh County Voter Registration Office has mailed you an annual application that you will need to complete and return, or fill out an on-line application, in order to continue automatically receiving either a mail-in or absentee ballot for each election in 2024.

► You must submit an application, either on line or complete and return the paper application, to affirm you want your county to send you a mail-in ballot for all 2024 elections in which you are eligible to vote.

► On-line application forms are available HERE

► You will receive the ballot application every year unless you return it and specify that you no longer want to receive it.

► If you would like to be removed from the annual list and no longer automatically receive an application, submit the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office’s Permanent Status Cancellation Form, to cancel your annual status.

Additional information PA Department of State Mail-In Voting and ULDC FAQ Mail-in Voting

Morning Call Report — Parkland School Board Candidates and Issues

Candidates, Election

Information to keep in mind when reading this article:
When the “Elevating Excellence” school board candidates frame their platform as about “parents’ rights,” it’s crucial to remember that the rights of some parents should never come at the expense of the well-being and equal treatment of ALL parents and students in a public school system.

There are outside interests and funding involved in local school board races. The Moms for Liberty movement is established in the Lehigh Valley, impacting our local school districts and backing candidates on 2023 ballots. Read more about their activism in the Lehigh Valley; about their founding, objectives and funding sources.

Read the Morning Call Article Here

Legislators Seek to Overturn Election Results, Deny the Will of State Voters

Election, Uncategorized

The action taken on Dec. 4, in the form of a letter from a group of Pennsylvania Republican legislators, emphasizes the destructive outcomes of gerrymandering and voter apathy towards state and local elections.  These legislators seek to overturn the Pennsylvania election results only for president (but not for their own offices) by having an alternative set of electors reject the will of the voters using specious arguments, many of which were already rejected by the judiciary.  Only one of the signatories is a representative of some of Lehigh County voters, Representative Ryan Mackenzie, who represents Lower Macungie, Macungie, Alburtis, parts of Salisbury Twp., and parts of South Whitehall.  Please read the letter (linked below) and contact Representative Mackenzie by whatever means you choose to express outrage at this blatant attempt to nullify your vote.

Use the image of this letter and its intent to energize yourself to engage and do everything possible for each and every year’s election to make the changes to better government. LETTER TO PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATORS IN THE US HOUSE AND SENATE

Note: In order to satisfy this request, at least one US House Representative and one US Senator from Pennsylvania would have to agree. Both Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey have refused.