Whitehall Township residents going to the polls are accustomed to casting ballots on referendum questions. They've voted on a title change from township executive to mayor and on a proposed recreation center.

This time around, they will decide the process of appointments to the offices of commissioner, mayor and tax collector/treasurer in event of a vacancy.

The Lehigh County Board of Elections has been tasked with framing the question that will appear on the November general election ballot, resulting from the board of commissioners action at its July meeting.

Township commissioners, in three separate actions, voted on legislation that would amend the home rule charter in the manner of filling the open elective seat.

The issue being voted on stated, "The replacement commissioner shall be a qualified member of the same party as the person vacating the seat, or if the person vacating the seat had no party affiliation, a person of any party affiliation as appointed by the board of commissioners."

On the matter of commissioners, voting no were Commissioners Clair Hunsberger, Gerard Palagonia and President Linda Snyder. Voting in the affirmative were Commissioners Philip Ginder, Phillips Armstrong, Thomas Slonaker and Dennis Hower.

Snyder said she doesn't want the township to have to pass on a qualified candidate and instead choose a potentially unqualified candidate on the basis of party affiliation.

Hower, chairman of the board's legal and legislative committee, said he believes the best way to settle the issue is to ask the residents to decide via ballots.