∎ VOTING ∎ ELECTION PROCESS ∎ POLLING PLACE OFFICERS & OPERATIONS

VOTING

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:
Voting by Mail (includes video instructions for applying on-line)
FAQ Mail-In Voting
PA Government Information at 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 pa.gov

Lehigh County began using a paper ballot voting system in 2019. This system uses a two-sided paper ballot system that is 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.

Voting by Mail – If you have a disability that prevents you from applying in person for your mail ballot or delivering your mail ballot, you may designate an agent to deliver your ballot materials for you. You must designate the agent in writing using this form found on pa.gov or a form provided by Lehigh County. More information at pa.gov.

Accessible Remote Ballot-Marking Solution for Mail Voting – voters with disabilities may request an accessible remote ballot that will allow voters who use screen readers and assistive devices to vote a mail ballot privately and independently. See detailed instructions at pa.gov.

Voting in Person – All Lehigh County poll locations are handicapped accessible. Visually impaired voters will be able to vote on an electronic machine, specifically designed for that use, in every polling place.

Fact Sheet for Voters in Long-Term Care Facilities, issued by the PA Department of State in August 2022 (updated September 2024) , is available as a PDF and addresses issues for those voters living in a long-term care facility.

See excerpt of specific instructions pertaining to designated agent

Lehigh County Voter Registration Lehigh County Government Center, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18101-2400 ∎ Phone 610-782-3194

PADems Pennsylvania Voter Assistance HOTLINE 1-833-728-6837 Call or Text

PA Department of State voter HOTLINE, 1-877-868-3772 For questions about voting, language assistance, voting rights. Report voter intimidation, election fraud, or other election crimes to PA Department of State hotline or file an election complaint DOS’s website.

See the list of current year Election Candidates under the Election tab. List will include links to candidate websites

League of Women Voter’s Vote 411 provides a personalized list of candidates and candidate information and other voting information.

Lehigh County Voter Registration Office — Voter and Election Information

ELECTION PROCESS

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 is set to correspond with the Primary Election date. (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’ Petitions 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. 

APPELLATE COURT JUDGES (State Superior, Commonwealth and Supreme Court) and TRIAL COURT JUDGES (Courts of Common Pleas) all serve ten year terms. 
Appellate Court and Trial Court judges run in partisan elections for their first 10-year term.  Subsequent 10-year terms are accomplished by merit retention elections. (See below for explanation of merit retention.) These judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75.
It is important to note that 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.

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUSTICES serve six year terms. MDJs run in partisan elections for their first 6-year term and each successive 6-year term. MJDs may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach mandatory retirement age of 75. It is important to note that Candidates for Magisterial District Judge 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. 

More Information about Cross-Filing

More Information about the Pennsylvania Judicial System

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 not their party affiliation. The ballot will also 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 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 win 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, for a single open seat, he or she runs unopposed in the general election. If a candidate wins both the Republican and Democratic Primary for one of four open seats, their name will appear once on the general election ballot as D and R or D/R.
To determine which cross-filed candidates in the ULDC area are Registered Democrats, please refer to the ULDC Election Page

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 the ULDC area are registered Democrats, please refer to the ULDC Election Page — click on the current election year page link.

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 even though it is part of the same municipality. The voter will see the candidate’s name on the ballot twice — once for each office. The voter may vote for the person for each term. If the candidate wins both seats in the general election, presumably the candidate chooses which seat he/she wants and the municipality fills the vacant office by appointment.

Act 77 of 2019, is the most significant improvement to Pennsylvania’s elections in more than 80 years. The bipartisan compromise legislation took effect for the April 2020 primary election. It provides for:

  •  No excuse mail-in voting
  • 50-day mail-in voting period
  • Annual mail-in and absentee ballot voter list
  • 15 more days to register to vote
  • Extends mail-in and absentee submission deadlines

Additional details on Act 77

POLLING PLACE OFFICERS & OPERATIONS

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. Most recent election year was 2021. Next election year will be 2025.
Additional informatin Brennan Center For Justice, Pennsylvania Guide to Election Officers Rules and Constraints

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. Most recent election year was 2021. Next election year will be 2025.
Additional informatin Brennan Center For Justice, Pennsylvania Guide to Election Officers Rules and Constraints

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. Most recent election year was 2021. Next election year will be 2025.

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.

Sources and Additional Information: Lehigh County Voter Registration
Brennan Center For Justice, Pennsylvania Guide to Election Officers Rules and Constraints