Northumberland County elections office announces mail‑in, absentee deadlines and confirms machines ready for May 20 municipal primary

At a meeting of the Northumberland County Board of Elections, staff outlined the registration and ballot deadlines for the county’s May 20 municipal primary and reported that voting machines have completed testing.

The report matters because the dates determine when residents must register and how and when ballots must be requested or returned ahead of the primary.

Staff said May 5 was the last day to register before the primary, and May 13 is the last day to apply for a mail‑in or civilian absentee ballot; applications must be received by 5 p.m. The county will accept voted mail‑in and civilian absentee ballots through 8 p.m. on May 20, the day of the municipal primary. Staff also said that military and overseas absentee ballots submitted for delivery by 11:59 p.m. on May 19 must be received by May 27 to be counted.

County elections staff reported that mail‑in and absentee ballots had been transmitted to voters and asked for a correction to an earlier date mentioned in the record. Staff told the board that machine testing was completed on April 25, 2025, and that machines are ready for delivery. The office said polling‑place notices and the candidate list would be published in three local papers on May 17.

The elections staff thanked county employees who will assist with contracted labor, machine delivery and scanning of mail‑in ballots, and reminded listeners that the first day to register after the primary is May 20.

For more information, the board directed voters to the county elections office (contact details were provided at the meeting).