2009 is a MUNICIPAL ELECTION year

Candidates in the 2009 municipal primary election are seeking their party's nomination to be on the ballot in November for various positions in local government.

These include:

    County Executive (one in Lehigh County; one in Northampton County)
    Northampton County Council (four at-large members)

    Northampton County Common Pleas Judges (three judges)

    Lehigh County Board of Commissioners (five elected by district, one per district)
    District Justices (one in each of certain magisterial districts; others will be elected in two or four years from now)
    Mayor (city or borough): one in each except Easton
    Council members (city or borough): four
    Townships: the number of commissioners or supervisors depends on the form of government. See the Voters Guide
    School directors: five for at-large seats; this varies in school districts that elect directors from regions.

May 19 -- Municipal Primary Election

NEW VOTERS: If you are registering for the first time in Pennsylvania, here are some things you should know about elections.
Pennsylvania has three official political parties: Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian. If you are registered in one of these parties, you may vote in the Primary Election. You will be choosing your party's candidates who will run against candidates from other parties in November. You may not vote for any candidates from another party unless it's for candidates who have cross-filed, and appear on more than one ballot. Generally this is the Democratic and Republican ballots. Only candidates for school director and judge may cross-file, as these are considered non-partisan positions.

If you choose not to register in a political party (generally called registering as an Independent), you may vote for any questions on the Primary Election ballot, but not for candidates. You may change your party affiliation at any time between the day after an election to one month before an election. Do this by filling out an application to register to vote, marking the "change of party" block.

In the November election, all registered voters may vote for candidates on the ballots of any party.

See Voting Regulations for information on registering and voting in the Lehigh Valley.