Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Public Records

Pennsylvania residents register to vote online through the Department of State website at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx. The online system requires a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT ID card. Deadlines matter—voters must register at least 15 days before an election to participate in it. Paper applications submitted by mail or in-person registration at the Northampton County office provide alternatives to the online system. While no party affiliation is required to vote in general elections, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their respective primary elections. The city operates under a Home Rule Charter with an elected mayor and seven-member city council. Mayoral and council elections occur in municipal odd years like 2025 and 2029. The mayor serves a four-year term, as do council members, though council terms are staggered so only some seats are contested in each cycle. The most recent mayoral election took place in November 2021, which means the next one is scheduled for November 2025. Voters can find details about local candidates, ballot questions, and municipal elections on the City of Bethlehem website at www.bethlehem-pa.gov and through the Northampton County elections office. Finding your assigned polling place is straightforward using the Pennsylvania Voter Services website at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/pollingplaceinfo.aspx. Enter your address and the system returns your specific polling location, sample ballot, and district information. Polls open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM on election day. Election records available to the public include voter registration lists, which qualified requestors can purchase, along with campaign finance reports filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State at www.campaignfinanceonline.pa.gov. Candidate petition filings and precinct-level election results are also accessible. The county posts unofficial results on election night and certified results after canvassing at www.norcopa.org/elections. Historical election data and voter turnout statistics remain publicly available for those tracking trends over time. Northampton County recorded approximately 75% voter turnout among registered voters in the November 2024 presidential election. The county has earned a reputation as a bellwether in Pennsylvania statewide races, and Bethlehem's voter participation typically matches or exceeds county averages during presidential election years. On November 3, 2026, voters across Bethlehem and Northampton County will decide several significant races. Pennsylvania holds gubernatorial elections that year, as the governor's term expires in January 2027. The U.S. Senate may also appear on the ballot if Pennsylvania's Class III seat is contested. State-level races include all 203 Pennsylvania House of Representatives seats, which are elected every two years, and half of the 50 Pennsylvania State Senate seats on their staggered four-year terms. County-level positions may include county executive, county council seats, and row officers such as district attorney, sheriff, controller, and coroner. Judgeships appear on the ballot when terms expire. Bethlehem's state legislative districts include portions of the 135th and 138th Pennsylvania House Districts and the 16th and 18th Pennsylvania Senate Districts, depending on which ward you live in. Pennsylvania's Act 77 established no-excuse mail-in voting. Residents can request mail-in or absentee ballots online at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/OnlineAbsenteeApplications, by mail, or in person at the Northampton County elections office. Applications must arrive by 5:00 PM the Tuesday before election day. Completed ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on election day—postmarks don't count, only physical receipt by the deadline. Return options include mail, drop boxes at locations listed on the Northampton County website, or in-person delivery to the elections office. First-time mail-in voters can track their ballot status online through the Pennsylvania Voter Services portal.