Beginning Feb. 6, persons interested in running for seats on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners in the May 16 primary election can pick up paperwork and petitions at the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office in Allentown.

Three commissioners seats will appear on the ballot. The terms of Commissioners Linda Snyder, Thomas Slonaker and Joseph J. Marx Jr. will expire at the end of 2017.

Also expiring Dec. 31 is the position of Treasurer/Tax Collector Diane Hunsicker.

The first day to obtain petition packets for the May primary is Feb. 6. The first day to begin collecting signatures on the nominating petitions is Feb. 14. The deadline to turn in the petitions to the county election office is March 7.

Thus far, no one has announced an intention to seek the offices of commissioner or treasurer.

The terms of office are four years beginning January 2018.

Marx is the only commissioner serving in an appointive role, filling the seat vacated last spring when Gerard “Jerry” Palagonia resigned amidst an ethics board report regarding his campaign for mayor.

Individuals signing candidates’ petitions must be on the active county voter registration rolls and be of the same political party of the candidate.

In the primary election, the three candidates with the highest votes from both parties will move on to the November general election.

Candidates cannot cross-file on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots; however, if the slate is not filled for the general election, candidates could have their names on both political party slots in November.