Lehigh County voters will be asked to answer three questions when they vote this year, including a decision that could create a first-in-the-state politically diverse county election board.

North Whitehall Township voters will see an extra question, asking for a tax increase to help keep land out of developers’ hands.

Here are the questions, and why they matter.

Question 1: Shall the Lehigh County Home Rule Charter be amended to expand the membership of the Election and Registration Commission from 3 voting members to 5 voting members, consisting of 2 members from each of the two largest political affiliations in the County, and 1 member from the third largest political affiliation (inclusive of non-affiliated/independent), and to revise the appointment process to provide residents the opportunity to apply for the Commission?

What does it mean? A yes vote would expand the Lehigh County Election Board to five members — two Democrats, two Republicans and one independent. The county executive would be removed as a voting member of the commission and the appointment process would be opened to public applications in addition to party nominations.

A no vote would keep the Lehigh County Election Board as is — one Democrat, one Republican and the Lehigh County executive.

Why does it matter? The measure, if approved, would create an election commission that includes a seat for independent or third-party voters, something that no other Pennsylvania county has.

Proponents say the change is needed to better reflect the political makeup of the county and acknowledge changing voter demographics. Voters outside the Democratic and Republican parties now represent 1 in 5 Lehigh County voters, according to county records. In 1998, they made up approximately 11%.

This mirrors what is happening in the rest of the U.S. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, 45% of voters now consider themselves independent.

Furthermore, proponents say, future commissions would change along with voters. While the language calls for two members each from the county’s majority political parties — which by today’s numbers would be the Democratic and Republican parties — independents and nonaffiliated voters could gain an extra seat if registration numbers change.

The referendum would also remove the county executive as a voting member, something that has given the executive’s party a majority in the past.

The election commission certifies Lehigh County’s election results, and controls election-related matters including where polling places are located and, most recently, whether to add additional ballot drop boxes throughout the county.

In Lehigh County’s position as a swing county in a swing state, a more politically diverse election commission would help instill trust if the voting process comes under scrutiny, proponents said.

“We need a model that addresses threats to our freedom and democracy, and capitalizes on the opportunity that we have as members of the county to work together to secure our future and our fundamental right to determine our own elected leaders,” said Commissioner Sarah Fevig, who spearheaded the initiative in April.

Other countywide referendum questions on the ballot:

Question 2: Shall multiple sections of the Lehigh County Home Rule Charter be amended to allow the County to publish notices in at least one newspaper of general circulation instead of the currently required two newspapers?

Question 3: Shall Section 606 of the Lehigh County Home Rule Charter be amended to eliminate the requirement that the Chair of the Board of Commissioners serve on the Lehigh County Retirement Board, and replace the Chair with another member of the Board of Commissioners?

Another question, for North Whitehall Township voters only:

Do you favor North Whitehall Township imposing an additional earned income tax at the rate of 0.15% in order to fund the purchase of land to preserve open space?

Why does it matter?

North Whitehall Township is asking residents to decide if they would like to initiate a .15-mill earned income tax dedicated to farmland and open space preservation. The initiative would bring the township an estimated $1 million per year, officials said, and the money raised could only be used for open space purposes, including preservation, acquisition, maintenance and recreation-related improvements.

North Whitehall officials say the question was created to address residents’ concerns about mounting pressure from developers, and to pay for the preservation of more farmland. Currently, the township has applications from 10 property owners interested in preserving more than 312 acres of land. The existing tax only generates about $160,000 annually, which is sufficient to preserve roughly one property each year.

According to North Whitehall’s website, the average household’s taxes would increase by an estimated $165.20 annually, or about $13.77 per month, if the measure passes.

“Without additional funding, preservation efforts may be delayed, increasing the likelihood that these properties are developed before they can be permanently protected,” officials said.

If the referendum is approved, North Whitehall’s 0.1-mill preservation property tax would be eliminated.

Northampton County does not have any referendums on the ballot this election year.