ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Officials are reminding residents of a special election Tuesday that will determine who represents parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. are running to represent the 22nd District. The seat was left vacant when incumbent Josh Siegel resigned to run for Lehigh County Executive.

Both candidates have backgrounds in public service and say affordability is a key issue.

“I’ve been living in District 22 and my issues are affordability, fair education and affordable housing. I’m here to fight for our families and to be the voice,” Ana Tiburcio says.

Tiburcio is a three-year Allentown school board member.

Smith is a former school board member and former city councilman.

“I’m not a career politician. I’m a health care professional and a public servant who knows how to work with both sides and to get results,” Robert Smith says.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Only residents of the district, which covers Center City and East Allentown and a portion of Salisbury Township, are permitted to vote. Residents are allowed to drop only their own ballots unless they have a valid designated agent form allowing them to drop ballots on behalf of someone unable to do so, the Lehigh County Executive’s Office said.

Forms are available at www.vote.pa.gov.

The Lehigh County Executive’s Office says the city and county are working to assure all polling sites are free of snow and ice.

BALLOT DROP BOX LOCATIONS:

Lehigh County Government Center – 17 South 7th Street, Allentown PA 18101 – 24/7 Drop Box Main Entrance. Signs are posted on the east side of 7th Street alongside the building permitting short-term parking for residents to drop their ballots.

Salisbury Township School District Administrative Building – 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown PA 18103 – Main Entrance Lobby – M-F 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Coca-Cola Park – Administrative OƯices – 1050 IronPigs Way, Allentown PA 18109 – Administrative OƯices Lobby Entrance – M-F 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

People can only drop off their own ballot.

Certificate of Designated Agent forms can be found at www.vote.pa.gov. This will allow you to drop off someone else’s ballot if they are physically unable to do so, according to the news release. Each drop box location will be monitored via electronic surveillance.

All ballots must be enclosed in the yellow Secrecy envelope before being sealed in the mailing envelope, the Lehigh County Executive’s Office says. Yellow Secrecy envelopes cannot have any identifying marks. Mailing envelope must be signed and dated. Any ballots that fail to do this may not be counted, according to the news release.

Over 20 polling locations will be available for residents to cast their votes:

Allentown 1st Ward – ASD Administration Building – 31 S Penn St.

Allentown 4th Ward – Agricultural Hall – 302 N 17th St.

Allentown 5th Ward – Agricultural Hall – 302 N 17th St.

Allentown 6th Ward 1st District – Lehigh County Government Center – 17 S 7th St.

Allentown 6th Ward 2nd District – Lehigh County Government Center – 17 S 7th St.

Allentown 7th Ward – Christ Lutheran Church – 1245 Hamilton St.

Allentown 8th Ward 1st District – St. Luke’s Lutheran Church – 417 N. 7th St.

Allentown 8th Ward 2nd District – Agricultural Hall – 302 N 17th St.

Allentown 8th Ward 3rd District – St. Luke’s Lutheran Church – 417 N. 7th St.

Allentown 8th Ward 5th District – LC Voting Machine Building (Greenleaf Ent) – 1201 Sumner Ave

Allentown 8th Ward 6th District – Rivers of Life Seibert Church – 617 N. 10th St.

Allentown 9th Ward – Allentown City Hall – 435 Hamilton St.

Allentown 10th Ward 1st District – Dubb’s Memorial Community Center – 457 W. Allen St.

Allentown 10th Ward 3rd District – Dubb’s Memorial Community Center – 457 W. Allen St.

Allentown 10th Ward 4th District – Dubb’s Memorial Community Center – 457 W. Allen St.

Allentown 11th Ward 2nd District – Agricultural Hall – 302 N 17th St.

Allentown 14th Ward 1st District – Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley – 41 S Carlisle St.

Allentown 14th Ward 2nd District – Community Bike Works – 614 S. Carlisle St.

Allentown 15th Ward 1st District – East Side Youth Center – 1140 E. Clair St.

Allentown 15th Ward 2nd District – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church – 1933 Hanover Ave.

Allentown 15th Ward 3rd District – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church – 1933 Hanover Ave.

Allentown 15th Ward 4th District – East Side Youth Center – 1140 E. Clair St.

Salisbury 1st Ward – Jerusalem Lutheran Church – 1707 Church Rd., Allentown

Salisbury 2nd Ward – East Salisbury Fire, Ambulance & Rescue Co. – 1000 E. Emmaus Ave.

Salisbury 3rd Ward 2nd District – Salisbury Twp. Administration Bldg. – 2900 S. Pike Ave., Allentown

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