Nominating Petition Deadline Looms for Major Party Candidates

Have you been thinking about running for borough or township council, or a seat on the Saucon Valley School Board? If you haven't already begun to circulate the nominating petition required for candidates from major political parties, you've still got a limited amount of time left to do so.

The last day to circulate and file nomination petitions according to the 2011 Election Calendar distributed by Northampton County's Election Office is Tuesday, March 8.

Independent party and minor party candidates will be able to begin circulating and filing their nomination papers March 9, and will have until Aug. 1 to file them.

Pennsylvania's primary election, which is a closed primary limited to candidates from major parties, is scheduled for May 17.

The last day for candidates who have already filed nomination petitions to withdraw from the primary is March 23.

The last day to register to vote, change party affiliation or change an address in advance of the primary election is April 18, according to the 2011 Election Calendar, copies of which are distributed by the county's Election Office at 670 Wolf Ave. in Easton, across from the Northampton County Courthouse.

Voters who will be out of the area on the day of the primary election have until May 10 to apply for absentee ballots.

In the , three council seats are open this year. Borough council is comprised of seven members and council terms are for four years.

In , three council seats are also open. Lower Saucon Township Council is comprised of five members and council terms are for four years.

Five of the nine seats on the are open this year, and candidates may be from either the borough or the township, since they are at-large seats. School board terms are for four years.

For more information about the nominating and filing process for municipal candidates, contact the Northampton County Election Office at 610-559-3055.