[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-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",[32,74,86],{"_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",6145031,"mediaKeyId","5533114-75e369e292225e8a0890932d6edba621","parentId",5533114,"title","Commission approves Chapman council‑size question and Williams Township EIT referendum for November ballot","audioSeconds",385,"startMs",3000000,"endMs",3385000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533114-75e369e292225e8a0890932d6edba621&start=3000&end=3385","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533114-75e369e292225e8a0890932d6edba621/thumbnail_3000000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6145031/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Commission-approves-Chapman-councilsize-question-and-Williams-Township-EIT-referendum-for-November-ballot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145031-c8b0855041703068f4eddeec87f9da7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770614799&Signature=cgoDdzMkCe5kyqO9~x5k-9kQH8ka9v5QEa58FCXBkVZZJPgs-V9QCSP1Zme9megjsWIICRMEff2V7xugqnRw3bDieVC6lZAldw5bgpSYfIbCYOEpThfHO6uen1yYNwJMDpzsyqhdhOoMWKA8NVhHbochCFUKZ2mNSaUA2dxoA3B~XzHbMJeTj21S2z~fhDfFHbYZM6g2X-rmxaQcuSB7GmnBc2fv4Ru-JpgbOUrUdWhRorO3gXYieOjqqoP1kxTzttyhfBxPWdIWBoHTF-6MP1iAmWkRKd4ViT3fcIkKP5wQ-Gl5hKhSt1PAFDuWG~gD0QWOsA3xd~KjCHXSuTwytQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-08-06T08:03:28Z","article","The Northampton County Election Commission voted to place two local referendum questions on the Nov. 4 ballot and approved the plain‑English language that will appear at polling places.

Chapman Borough: the commission placed Chapman Borough’s ordinance question on the ballot asking whether to reduce the borough council from seven members to five. The registrar read a proposed plain‑English summary: “The ballot question asks the voters of Chapman Borough to reduce the size of the borough council from 7 members to 5 members. A vote of yes would reduce the size of the borough council to 5 members. A vote of no would keep the size of the borough council at 7 members.” A motion to place the question on the ballot and to approve the revised plain‑English version passed unanimously.

Williams Township EIT: the commission placed Williams Township’s referendum on the ballot asking whether voters favor an additional 0.25% earned‑income tax imposed by Williams Township for specified open‑space acquisition and associated expenses. The solicitor explained that the township’s attorney drafted a detailed plain‑English version and recommended approval to ensure voters understand how the revenue may be used. A motion to place the Williams Township question on the ballot and to approve the plain‑English version carried; Commissioner Dan abstained.

Why it matters: both actions are ministerial duties of the commission when a municipality submits a valid ordinance or referendum question; approving the plain‑English summary ensures polling‑place materials tell voters the effect of a yes or no vote. The Williams Township summary included detailed spending authority language, including that up to 25% of annual revenue may be used for development, improvement, design, engineering, or maintenance of property acquired in fee simple, language the solicitor said is important for taxpayer clarity.

Ending: the commission recorded the votes and will place the two questions on the official November ballot, using the approved plain‑English summaries at polling places.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 5th, 2025 - Election Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Northampton County Election Commission voted to place Chapman Borough's council‑size referendum and Williams Township's earned‑income‑tax (EIT) referendum on the November ballot and approved plain‑English summaries. Dan abstained from the Williams Township vote.","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},6145036,"Registrar outlines November election deadlines, drop‑box locations and provisional envelope change",181,1056000,1237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533114-75e369e292225e8a0890932d6edba621&start=1056&end=1237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533114-75e369e292225e8a0890932d6edba621/thumbnail_1056000.jpg","/articles/6145036/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Registrar-outlines-November-election-deadlines-dropbox-locations-and-provisional-envelope-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145036-66ce6979b1445ec4dcee1e9381d86f4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770614799&Signature=N7VUP4k8l33vWVyhHrX0SOgJhJUA~Kg1aTDQ6cntv9WyGAW0CpO6KXTTFtavZbCNW2LBR-hwWBKG1T0TagRYdDLFj8lV3jzgCSF8Y11AFo9B3rjjF2i676chO5nVxiUrlXphQOrKgm3DcDCAKDAE4xRgUoZlu7Cwe4BK3ZMwbZh2U2rHrPUdUKVwOYsD~88e4Qarxwik2pB8Lj0kkiey784FLA45yMvnPYtrwTJOg4nd-a1UIJ02Yr1QNlS02TnOBgtYUiM9T88Db3TU-jBsCSPzqU4qs~fw8lt0Sp0156m2Svoya7khLSC3DA~vY-ISbUyEtqa83N2zaDomq2vT5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton County Elections Registrar reviewed major dates, resources and operational changes ahead of the Nov. 4 general election and described how the county will operate ballot‑on‑demand and drop‑box services.

Important dates and deadlines: the registrar, Chris, said the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 4 general election is Monday, Oct. 20. The last day to apply for mail‑in ballots is Wednesday, Oct. 28; that date is also the final day for ballot‑on‑demand. Online voter registration remains open until midnight on the Oct. 20 deadline; in‑person registrations will be accepted during extended office hours.

Drop boxes and returns: the county will have seven drop‑box locations, the registrar said, and the county will collect late‑hour drop boxes at 8 p.m. on election day. Voters may also return mail ballots in person at the county elections office on election day; all mail ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on election day to be counted.

Voter counts and testing: the registrar reported 227,877 registered voters in the county and 27,069 mail‑in‑ballot applications on file at the time of the meeting. Lab testing of central scanners and voting machines is tentatively scheduled for October; canvassing of the Nov. 4 election will begin on Friday, Nov. 7.

Other notes: the Department of State has redesigned the provisional‑ballot envelope; use of the new envelope is not mandatory but the county will adopt the new design and accepted a small state grant to subsidize printing of the new envelopes. The registrar said the county’s allocation for an election integrity grant covering the 2025–26 grant year is stated in the meeting as 1,178,605 dollars. One polling‑place change for November was announced: Wind Gap Borough’s polling place moved from the Wind Gap Fire Company Social Hall to Borough Hall; affected voters received updated voter ID cards.

Communications: the registrar urged voters with questions about registration, mail‑in ballots or polling locations to contact the Northampton County Elections Division at (610) 829‑6260, to visit vote.pa.gov, or to contact the Department of State at 1‑877‑868‑3772. The registrar said the next commission meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 3:00 p.m.

Ending: the registrar said additional details, including hours and specific dates for ballot‑on‑demand and drop‑box availability, will be published once sites and schedules are finalized.","Northampton County Elections Registrar presented key dates for the Nov. 4 general election, identified ballot‑on‑demand deadlines and seven county drop‑box locations, and noted a Department of State provisional‑envelope redesign and a county election‑integrity grant allocation.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":78,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":81,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6145041,"Northampton County moves ahead with satellite 'on‑demand' voting despite legal, political concerns",524,1580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533114-75e369e292225e8a0890932d6edba621&start=1056&end=1580","/articles/6145041/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Northampton-County-moves-ahead-with-satellite-ondemand-voting-despite-legal-political-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145041-99b5d5bd2aead146b6b738c55926f5d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770614799&Signature=QZ2ZZCiXMRr-JJN-LcyLaO0oPcWEvO3m~EhxNP9QegfqGQTZeYU6b8K85sRLTE71WyZV8gmYNbJEqPBaSjuEcUTo-SNUjGvRDoUVK8WrV0UEcPT8s7NyVS~gnb228dlIne9W2o~aTJ2DcoXQppt0IprUwjqkYPuVxoWYov37N3-mzHyz8NCtSCViIxjnDlCx-op-GV9vAEs8pzOxozmuB7pwD1w4FqJyWS1lQ5dQDIHZiPtsBJB4ydM-kJ~hFObhE7zsTc~W37jRa7RTX1Axf5W6Pqr-djowLuCN44ASQ0Q52qJxmMIsYa~DStxDd6PSxgcw9PExPoV1QvWFM9vVHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton County Election Commission said it is moving forward with a plan to operate satellite ballot‑on‑demand locations for county elections, a decision that has prompted public objections and requests for additional legal and data review.

The registrar, Chris (role: Elections Registrar), said the administration has identified two tentative sites for November — Washington Township Municipal Building and the Fowler Family Southside Center in south Bethlehem — and is coordinating walk‑throughs and local approvals. “We have staffing resources. We have supplies. We have everything we need to be able to execute these locations,” Chris said. The sites would be open at least two days a week, the registrar said, and would allow voters to deposit completed ballots directly into existing county drop boxes located at the site for security.

Why it matters: the change could alter how and where residents cast ballots and has prompted legal and partisan objections that could lead to litigation. Charles Baltic, speaking on behalf of the Northampton County Republican Committee, told commissioners the June vote authorizing satellite offices was “ill considered and unfounded” and said any move to implement satellite offices “is not authorized, valid, or allowable under Pennsylvania election law.” Glenn Geisinger said the action “is an abominable assault on our democracy. Period.” Both men said they would pursue legal remedies if the commission did not reverse course.

The commission’s solicitor, Michael, confirmed there is existing litigation at the state and federal level over aspects of mail‑in ballots and said the county is abiding by current court orders. Michael offered to prepare an attorney‑client memorandum setting out the legal justification for satellite voting sites and advised the commission that such a memo would be privileged. “I can provide the commission with an opinion,” he said; commissioners requested that memo before the next meeting.

Several commissioners urged more data and legal review before implementation. Commissioner Julia said she voted in favor because she believed the county needed to address instances of voters being unable to cast ballots at certain locations, but other commissioners said they expected more empirical justification. Commissioner Scott and others pressed for a needs analysis and legal clarity. Commissioners also discussed staffing, costs and security: Nicole (elections administration staff) said the county will use existing staff and the existing drop‑box collection process, and that there is no additional county budget appropriation for the sites.

Administrative steps: the Washington Township supervisors added the location item to their mid‑August agenda; the county will do a walk‑through at Fowler. The registrar said the county will publish dates and hours once locations are confirmed and that communications to the public will follow. The county also plans to track utilization at the locations to determine whether to continue them after trial deployments.

Process and next steps: the commission acknowledged that a vote authorizing satellite sites was taken previously; several commissioners said that vote stands but that they want the solicitor’s memorandum and additional operational details. The solicitor agreed to provide a written opinion to the commission (privileged) before the next meeting. Public commenters and at least one local attorney warned of litigation if the county implements satellite sites without addressing their legal concerns.

Ending: Commissioners said they would update the public as locations and schedules are finalized and noted that walk‑throughs and local approvals must be completed before opening any site. The commission did not hold a new formal vote on the issue at this meeting.","The Northampton County Election Commission is proceeding with plans for satellite ballot‑on‑demand sites after a prior vote, while public commenters and some commissioners raised legal, operational and political concerns. The registrar identified two tentative sites; the solicitor will prepare a legal memorandum.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves Chapman council‑size question and Williams Township EIT referendum for November ballot

Registrar outlines November election deadlines, drop‑box locations and provisional envelope change

Northampton County moves ahead with satellite 'on‑demand' voting despite legal, political concerns