PROTECT YOUR VOTE — LEHIGH VALLEY 2026:
A nonpartisan guide to making sure your vote is counted!
THE SIMPLEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR VOTE:
REQUEST EARLY.
VOTE EARLY.
TRACK YOUR BALLOT.
USE AN OFFICIAL DROP-OFF LOCATION,
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RELY ON USPS.
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, CONTACT ELECTION OFFICIALS — YOU MAY STILL HAVE OPTIONS.
The legal deadline is the last possible date, not the date you should aim for.
Please share this information with other Lehigh Valley voters.
This is a nonpartisan voter-information guide. Election rules, hours and ballot-return locations can change. Before acting, verify current information with the Pennsylvania Department of State or your county election office.
There is currently uncertainty surrounding proposed changes to U.S. Postal Service procedures for mail-in ballots. Regardless of what ultimately happens, Pennsylvania voters can take simple steps to greatly reduce the possibility that a mail problem prevents their vote from being counted.
The most important advice: Vote early, track your ballot, and know your alternatives to the mail.
IMPORTANT PENNSYLVANIA DEADLINES
October 27 at 5:00 PM
Your county must RECEIVE your application for a mail-in or absentee ballot.
November 3 at 8:00 PM — Election Day
Your county must RECEIVE your completed ballot.
IMPORTANT: A November 3 postmark is NOT enough.
If your ballot arrives at the county after 8:00 PM on Election Day, it generally will not be counted, even if you mailed it before Election Day.
1. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE
If you plan to vote by mail, request your ballot early.
Once you receive it, complete and return it promptly.
Don't treat October 27 as the recommended date to request your ballot. It is the legal deadline. Similarly, don't rely on mailing your completed ballot shortly before November 3.
The earlier you act, the more time you have to correct a problem.
2. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT THROUGH THE POST OFFICE
If you are concerned about mail delays or other problems, you can bypass USPS when RETURNING your ballot.
Pennsylvania permits voters to return their completed mail ballots directly to:
• Their county election office
• An official county ballot drop box
• Another officially designated county ballot-return location
Find Official Pennsylvania Ballot Return Locations
LEHIGH COUNTY
Lehigh County Election Office
Lehigh County Government Center
17 S. 7th Street
Allentown, PA 18101
610-782-3194
Lehigh County Elections — Official Website
Lehigh County provides secure ballot drop boxes around the county. Check the official county website for the November 2026 locations and hours before going.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
Northampton County Election Division
Northampton County Government Center
669 Washington Street, Lower Level
Easton, PA 18042
610-559-3055
Northampton County Elections — Official Website
Northampton County also provides secure ballot drop boxes at multiple locations around the county. Check the official county website for the November 2026 locations and hours before going.
IMPORTANT: Pennsylvania generally requires you to return YOUR OWN ballot. Do not take another person's ballot to a drop box unless you qualify under Pennsylvania's designated-agent rules.
3. WANT TO AVOID THE MAIL ENTIRELY? VOTE EARLY IN PERSON.
Pennsylvania offers on-demand mail-ballot voting.
Once ballots are available, a registered voter can go to the county election office or another officially designated location and:
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Apply for a mail ballot.
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Wait while the application is processed.
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Receive the ballot.
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Fill it out.
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Properly seal, sign and date it.
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Hand it back to election officials.
You have now voted without your ballot traveling through the mail in either direction.
FIND WHERE TO GO
Pennsylvania's Official Guide to Voting In Person by Mail Ballot
Lehigh County voters
Lehigh County Elections — Locations and Information
Lehigh County Election Office
17 S. 7th Street
Allentown, PA 18101
610-782-3194
Lehigh County Elections — Locations and Information
Northampton County voters
Northampton County Elections — Locations and Information
Northampton County Election Division
669 Washington Street, Lower Level
Easton, PA 18042
610-559-3055
Northampton County Elections — Locations and Information
NOTE: Before going, check the county website or call the election office to make sure November ballots are available and to confirm current locations and hours.
4. TRACK YOUR BALLOT
Pennsylvania provides an online mail-ballot tracking system.
Use it to determine whether:
• Your application has been processed
• Your ballot has been mailed to you
• Your completed ballot has been received by your county
Track Your Pennsylvania Mail Ballot
Don't simply assume everything is fine. Check.
If you returned your ballot and its status doesn't update as expected, contact your county election office promptly.
5. MAKE SURE YOUR BALLOT IS COMPLETED CORRECTLY
A ballot that arrives on time can still have problems if the instructions aren't followed.
Follow the instructions included with your ballot carefully.
In particular:
1. Mark your ballot.
2. Put the ballot inside the YELLOW secrecy envelope marked “Official Election Ballot.”
3. Seal the yellow envelope.
4. Put the yellow envelope inside the outer return envelope.
5. Seal the outer envelope.
6. SIGN the voter declaration on the outer envelope.
7. DATE the declaration with the current date.
Failure to use the secrecy envelope or properly complete the declaration can prevent your ballot from being counted.
6. GENERALLY, RETURN ONLY YOUR OWN BALLOT
Pennsylvania law generally requires voters to return their own mail ballots.
Don't collect ballots from friends, relatives or neighbors and take them to a drop box.
There is an exception for certain voters with disabilities, who can formally designate another person to return their ballot using Pennsylvania's designated-agent procedure.
7. WHAT IF MY BALLOT NEVER ARRIVES?
DON'T GIVE UP.
Contact your county election office as soon as you realize there may be a problem.
Requesting a mail ballot does NOT necessarily mean that you lose your ability to vote if that ballot never reaches you.
If you go to your polling place on Election Day:
If you still have your mail ballot and return envelope: You may surrender them at the polling place and vote a regular ballot.
If you requested a mail ballot but don't have it to surrender: You can generally cast a provisional ballot.
Election officials will determine that your mail ballot was not already voted before counting the provisional ballot.
8. IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, DOCUMENT IT
If you encounter a problem involving your ballot, write down:
• The date and time
• What happened
• Where it happened
• Your ballot-tracking status
• Who you spoke with
• What you were told
Then contact your county election office -- see info above.
You can also contact the:
Pennsylvania Department of State Election Hotline
1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772)