Will Lehigh University or Muhlenberg College students decide municipal elections in Lehigh or Northampton counties this November? Republicans could counter the student vote and beat the Democrats without increasing the number of registered Republicans. If Republican turn out for municipal elections in the same numbers as they turned out for the 2024 Presidential election their candidates would win.

College students meet the registration requirements to vote in Northampton or Lehigh county as long as they are 18 years old and have resided in the county 30 days. But with mail-in voting available, you would think they would send their ballots to their home county and state.

Are these students being manipulated by local politicians? Professors have facilitated registrations in our counties by providing registration forms to the students, and in some cases have delivered the completed forms to the county voter registration offices.

What percentage of the approximately 7,700 students at Lehigh, the 1,850 students at Muhlenberg, and 2,750 students at Lafayette vote? Just 10 percent from Lehigh would add 770 voters to the rolls. 770 votes is a lot in a municipal election. Northampton County has opened a satellite office at Northampton Community College.

In the 2021 municipal elections for Bethlehem City Mayor, the Republican candidate would have won if the level of Republican participation was the same level as the Presidential election in 2024. The saying, “All politics are local.” Is quite appropriate. Control of the county election board would go to Republicans if a Republican were elected County Executive in Lehigh County. Some needed election reforms could then be enacted, which would be in effect for municipal, state, and federal elections.

Ann M. Mickus

Bethlehem