[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6215530,"mediaKeyId","3658547-2b6026a468743e064b3eabc127773bdc","parentId",3658547,"title","Election commission approves planning for South Bethlehem and Northern Tier 'ballot on demand' locations","audioSeconds",4374,"startMs",589000,"endMs",4963000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3658547-2b6026a468743e064b3eabc127773bdc&start=589&end=4963","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3658547-2b6026a468743e064b3eabc127773bdc/thumbnail_589000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6215530/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Election-commission-approves-planning-for-South-Bethlehem-and-Northern-Tier-ballot-on-demand-locations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215530-49b58628863ae266987260445bdfc494/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187344&Signature=PB8swD-EY3X5RQLKPZ0uA-V5lLdgHjMWm4sf1hB6LR71FOKa3EMj9KTNJrTlCdfreZBzpcfky3bh5U9Uvdb3mzfbDSjQW16pFqg947jjAoyd~4RN6ROx8MCb7W-AF-7d6gn5l5~57Rw6dsOLKqgENSKUPIPT~~D4e6A8MeByop~g-m7J3HS-HGX8v1~4VRDwMSONeZ8gkhyl1~sKjWbrWSmhl7UhNC4iG2zB517kIk1R6OZjRPXa3EhZk64GBTnY7RTc2GlyVK-8U7tq47hsBCcRRb4XO5N2BzGwHGayrxRUGjJxmlHcfgUm0wbMstKbq7ZjDhrkTX3nSkLnZ7p4xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-04T08:37:06Z","article","The Northampton County Election Commission voted to ask county administration to prepare plans for ballot-on-demand locations on South Side Bethlehem and in the county’s Northern Tier, after hours of discussion about turnout patterns, staffing, parking and fairness.

The motion approved by the commission directs county elections staff to present a specific plan and supporting data — including historical on-demand volumes, precinct origins of on-demand voters and proposed hours and staffing — at a special meeting or at the next regular meeting in August. Commissioners debated whether to authorize immediate implementation or to first receive a detailed plan; the commission ultimately approved the request that administration prepare and present plans for both a southern and a northern location and explain operational details.

What commissioners discussed and why it matters

Commissioners and staff repeatedly framed the proposal as an operational experiment intended to expand access and reduce long waits at the county elections office during high-turnout presidential years. Nicole, elections staff, said preliminary conversations with Lehigh University showed interest in hosting limited ballot-on-demand services where county staff would provide ballot-on-demand and voter registration for a published schedule. Nicole said such a site “would be open to not just Lehigh University students, but to the public. Any Northampton County voter could go to that location and vote ballot on demand.”

Commissioners raised operational concerns: parking near a university site, training and staffing, whether the service should mirror courthouse hours, and how to publicize the schedules to ensure the new locations are used. Commissioners asked for data on the 7,000 on-demand votes that the office reported during the prior presidential election, including the daily distribution and the precincts those voters came from, so the commission can judge whether a permanent satellite location is needed.

Staff described expected scope and limits

Chris Vargo, elections staff, said a ballot-on-demand site would offer only limited services: issuing mail-in ballots on demand and processing voter registrations during published hours. “It would be limited services, ballot on demand and you could register to vote,” Vargo said. He added the office would publish a schedule and that sites would not be open full-time; for the upcoming general election staff suggested a limited number of days rather than a full five-day schedule.

Motions, voting and implementation timeline

Commissioners initially considered a motion to move forward immediately; that motion received no second and died. A later motion to have administration prepare data and return with a plan was moved and seconded but failed on a subsequent vote. A final motion — asking administration to prepare plans for a South Side site and a Northern Tier site and to return with the requested data and implementation details — was moved, seconded and approved; the chair declared “the ayes have it” and directed staff to proceed with planning and a presentation to the commission.

Commissioners asked staff to return with the following information: historical daily volumes for on-demand voting (particularly the peak days that produced roughly 1,000 on-peak votes the office reported), precinct origins of on-demand voters, proposed hours and staffing plans, parking/access considerations at proposed sites, estimated costs and a communications plan (including language-access outreach) so voters know the locations and hours. Commissioners also asked that staff consider Northern Tier options such as Washington Township and existing Fowler Center or City Hall options in Bethlehem.

Ending

County elections staff said they will develop operational plans and return to the commission in August or at a special meeting with the requested data and proposed schedules; staff noted any implementation will be limited to the mail-in ballot window and will comply with applicable state guidance and labor agreements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 3, 2025 Northampton County Election Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After extended discussion about access, staffing and data needs, the Northampton County Election Commission voted to ask the administration to prepare specific plans for ballot-on-demand locations on the South Side of Bethlehem and in the Northern Tier and to return with data and implementation details.","taxTitle","Northampton County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2939,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6215535,"Northampton County reports 40,588 votes in municipal primary; 2% audit passed, undated ballots counted under court order",158,72000,230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3658547-2b6026a468743e064b3eabc127773bdc&start=72&end=230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3658547-2b6026a468743e064b3eabc127773bdc/thumbnail_72000.jpg","/articles/6215535/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Northampton-County-reports-40588-votes-in-municipal-primary-2-audit-passed-undated-ballots-counted-under-court-order","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215535-229d36f3e1110f6fdf997519954858d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187344&Signature=U2UlnPn8pwEmSDXIgSQOp1dnRYnm8C9YIsnawdsh5gKOqhbdvs-1C1w-nw0i~FVrFAFOHbvkzz1-OtImrmV~ZQEcO~PFAYMcy926E4PIMRZsm-jUuFo-BD-xz~-wPMxzu-QqiT9lgqZ2Q-71F8U~1nbVJSh1yb5x1Xix~e5oOt~-uWGvfMbkN3YavAeptliSamFf0hqLkSySpHD-lLQ~ED4D~LJP1QD-BxAj~pSSVadF-9RRTIXXYTkAfRrF~Ge0mXPATitBAdijzRxPUGCoJMDlzqkg53Vm3sXZluCQH4ougDWDw7xvMDKMnFokKzKhghQ8LFqSxFe9soVuiQDpIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northampton County elections staff reported 40,588 votes were cast in the municipal primary held May 20, county elections staff said, and completed the official canvass on May 28.

The county’s elections staff said the total produced an 18% turnout overall and 22% turnout among voters registered with the two major parties: 15,489 Republican voters and 25,099 Democratic voters. Of those votes, 21,916 were cast in person and 18,586 were returned by mail; county staff reported a 75% return rate for mailed ballots.

Chris Vargo, elections staff, said, “In total, we had 40,588 votes cast in that election.” He also gave the county’s breakdown: “15,489 Republicans and 25,099 Democratic voters,” and added that the official computation and canvas began May 23 and was completed May 28.

Why it matters: the canvass and the post-election audit confirm the county’s official returns and the integrity steps taken after the vote. The county also took procedural steps to resolve close-ballot questions: casting of lots to determine ballot position or winners in tied races is scheduled for Friday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. in the county cafeteria; county staff said five races will be subject to casting of lots, four for ballot position and one to determine the winner in Hanover Township supervisor, six-year term.

Solicitor’s report and undated/misstated ballots

Mike, the county solicitor, told commissioners there is no pending local litigation arising from the primary but that the county is continuing to follow a federal court injunction concerning undated and misstated mail ballots. “So in accordance with the federal injunction, we did count the misstated and undated mail in ballots,” he said, and added the county will continue to follow any court instructions if they change.

Audit and provisional ballots

Elections staff reported the county conducted the 2% post-election audit required by Act 88 during the canvass and “passed the audit without issue,” Vargo said. The office received 106 provisional ballots on election night and counted 86 of them; staff said the 20 provisionals that were not counted were related to party-eligibility problems, duplicate mail-in submissions or similar issues.

Operational note

Vargo described routine drop-box collection and processing: drop boxes are treated as timely if picked up by 8 p.m. on election day, and the office hand-scans envelopes or ballots that fail to read on the scanner. He said one ballot’s envelope did not register during hand scanning but the ballot itself was found and counted after staff located and pre-scanned the envelope.

Next steps and calendar

Elections staff said the next Election Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5 at 3:00 p.m., and the next municipal general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4. The county will proceed with the scheduled casting of lots on June 6 to resolve the five contests identified during the canvass.

Ending

County staff and the solicitor repeatedly told commissioners the office will continue to follow state guidance and any court orders affecting how mail ballots are handled. Commissioners asked follow-up questions about envelope design, drop-box handling and how the office contacts voters when mailings are returned as undeliverable.","County elections staff reported 40,588 total votes in the May 20 municipal primary, a 2% post-election audit required by Act 88 passed, and the county counted misdated and undated mail ballots under a federal injunction. Officials scheduled casting of lots for June 6 and completed the official canvass May 28.","actionData","errors"]

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Election commission approves planning for South Bethlehem and Northern Tier 'ballot on demand' locations

Northampton County reports 40,588 votes in municipal primary; 2% audit passed, undated ballots counted under court order