The Northampton County Council meeting held on December 5, 2024, highlighted significant concerns regarding the recent election day experiences, particularly at polling locations frequented by students. Jack Ciavelalla, vice president of the Lehigh University College Democrats, addressed the council, expressing frustration over the long wait times and logistical issues faced by voters, especially at the Banana Factory polling site in Southside Bethlehem.

Ciavelalla reported that some voters experienced wait times of up to seven hours, which he deemed unacceptable. He noted that the situation drew media attention, with prominent figures like Lehigh University President Helble appearing on national news to discuss the chaos. He emphasized that the problems were not isolated to his district, citing similar issues at polling places in Easton and Lafayette College, where voters were also turned away.

In his remarks, Ciavelalla urged the council to review the voting process and consider solutions such as increasing the number of voting machines and improving access to early voting. He pointed out that many students, particularly those from out of state, faced challenges in obtaining mail-in ballots due to Pennsylvania's ID requirements. He also suggested that implementing a system of paper ballots alongside electronic machines could alleviate some of the pressure on polling locations.

Nicole Peterzak, Director of Administration for Northampton County, responded to the concerns by outlining the county's efforts to manage the high voter turnout, which reached record levels. She explained that the county deployed additional voting machines to areas with unusually high turnout, including the Banana Factory and Kirby Sports Center. Despite these efforts, the turnout exceeded expectations, leading to long lines at many polling places.

Peterzak acknowledged the challenges faced on election day but noted that the county had taken steps to address issues as they arose, including sending additional machines and poll workers to busy locations. She explained that the allocation of voting machines was based on previous election turnout data, which did not fully anticipate the surge in participation this year.

The discussions at the council meeting underscored the need for ongoing evaluation of election processes in Northampton County, particularly as voter engagement continues to rise. The council is expected to consider the feedback from both Ciavelalla and Peterzak as they plan for future elections.