The Nov. 4 general election is fast approaching, when Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania voters will decide who will serve on school boards, in municipal and county governments, and state and local courts.

Here’s what you need to know about voting in the general election.

Who’s on the ballot?

Dozens of offices are on the ballot across the state. Perhaps the most hotly contested races are among candidates for Lehigh Valley school boards. The most crowded races include those in East Penn (seven candidates for four seats); Parkland (six candidates, four seats); Southern Lehigh (seven candidates, four seats) and Allentown (seven candidates, four seats).

For Lehigh County executive, voters will choose between former Allentown police Chief and City Council member Roger MacLean, a Republican, and Democratic state Rep. Josh Siegel in a race that has centered around national politics as well as the county’s fiscal status.

In the Northampton County executive race, Democrat Tara Zrinski, the elected county controller, faces Republican County Council member Thomas Giovanni.

In Allentown, Mayor Matt Tuerk faces City Council member Ed Zucal in a repeat of the May primary, in which Zucal earned enough write-in votes to appear on the November ballot as a Republican.

Statewide, the highest profile race is that of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices who are up for retention. Republicans are pushing voters to vote no on retaining Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht, who were elected as Democrats. If their retention fails, partisan elections for the seats would be held in 2027.

When is Election Day?

The general election is Nov. 4. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Do I need to show ID at the polls?

Only if you are voting at a polling location for the first time. Otherwise, identification is not required to vote in Pennsylvania.

Registering to vote

The deadline to register to vote, check your registration status or update your address, party affiliation or other information is Oct. 20. To do so, go to vote.pa.gov or to your local election office.

In Lehigh County, voter registration is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.

In Northampton County, the voter registration office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the lower level of the main courthouse, 669 Washington St., Easton.

Voter registration is also available at county assistance offices; Women, Infants & Children program offices; PennDOT photo and drivers’ license centers; Armed Forces recruitment centers; county clerk of orphans’ courts or marriage license offices; area agencies on aging; county mental health and intellectual disabilities offices; student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education; offices of special education in high schools; and Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complementary paratransit providers.

If you’re unsure of your voter registration status, go to the Department of State Voting FAQ page.

Voting by mail

All registered voters have the option to vote by mail in Pennsylvania for any reason; ballots can be requested online at vote.pa.gov or in person at the counties’ election offices.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Oct. 28.

Voted mail ballots must be received by county election offices, either by mail or in person, by 8 p.m. Election Day. Postmarks do not count.

Ballots must be signed, dated and inserted into included security envelopes before being placed in the return envelopes. Due to ongoing legal challenges, it’s unclear if undated mail ballots will be accepted.

Voters must drop off their own mail ballots unless a certification has been signed giving that task to someone else due to disability or another reason.

If you’ve received a mail ballot but decide to vote in person, bring your incomplete mail ballot to the polling place and you’ll be able to vote. If you don’t bring your mail ballot, you should still be allowed to vote in person by provisional ballot.

Where can I vote?

If voting in person, you can find your polling place at pa.gov/services/vote/find-your-local-polling-place.html.

Mail ballots can be dropped off at the county board of elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Both Northampton and Lehigh counties will have drop boxes set up at locations throughout the counties.

In Northampton County, completed ballots can be dropped off at the following locations:

Washington Township Municipal Building (interior hallway), 1021 Washington Blvd. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday
East Allen Township Municipal Building (main lobby), 5344 Nor Bath Blvd. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
NCC Fowler Family Southside Center (main lobby), 511 E. Third St., Bethlehem. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-2  p.m. Saturday
Northampton County Courthouse (rotunda), 669 Washington St., Easton. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday
Northampton County Human Services Building (main entrance vestibule), 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem Township. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Northampton County 911 Center (main entrance vestibule), 100 Gracedale Ave., Upper Nazareth Township.  Available 24/7
Bethlehem City Hall (main lobby), 10 E. Church St. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday

In Lehigh County:

Whitehall Township Municipal Building, 3219 MacArthur Road. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Lehigh County Authority (lobby), 1053 Spruce Road, Lower Macungie Township. 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday-Friday
Fountain Hill Borough Building, 941 Long St. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Lehigh County Government Center (main entrance), 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown. Available 24/7
Macungie Borough Building, 21 Locust St. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Make sure you follow all directions printed on the mail ballot, and only drop off your ballot. If you are unable to drop off your ballot, you can fill out a Certificate of Designated Agent form, found at www.vote.pa.gov.

I received a mail ballot but want to vote in person. Can I?

Yes. Bring the mail ballot — including all envelopes — to your polling place. You will be allowed to vote in person.

I applied for a mail ballot but didn’t receive it. What do I do?

Go to your polling place. You will be given a provisional ballot to vote.

What’s a provisional ballot and who gets one?

Provisional ballots are given to voters when their eligibility to vote can’t immediately be determined, such as when your name isn’t in the poll book, or you cannot show identification when required to.

Voters who completed an absentee or mail-in ballot that was rejected also can complete a provisional ballot at the polls.

Provisional ballots are counted within seven days after an election, once voter eligibility is determined.