What You Need to Know Before Voting in Today's Primary Election

Today, May 17, is Primary Election Day – the day to make your choice for local officials such as school board members who decide how your hard-earned tax dollars will be spent.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Pennsylvania, primary elections are “closed,” meaning you must be registered as a Republican to vote for Republican candidates, or as a Democrat to vote for Democratic candidates. Voters registered as Independent can only vote on ballot questions (such as Northampton County’s Gracedale nursing home question) in this election.

Local Races

Nazareth School Board

The Nazareth School Board has two seats open for election this year in “Region 1” (Bushkill Township, Tatamy and Palmer Township/Upper, West) and four candidates are running.

Here is one more look at your Nazareth School Board candidates:

Nazareth Borough Council

Nazareth Borough Council has one seat open for election this year in "Ward 3" and two candidates are running.

Here is one more look at your Nazareth Borough Council candidates:

Troy Keenhold (Did not respond to requests to fill out a Patch questionnaire)

Gracedale

If you've followed the local news at all in the past few months,  seen the stories.

Northampton County , based in Upper Nazareth. A group of citizens that hopes to prevent the salehas 

Here's how it reads:

Vote Yes or No

"The county nursing home, known as Gracedale, shall not be sold and/or leased by the County of Northampton for a period of five (5) years from the date of the approval of this initiative."

Northampton County Controller , while columnists Jon Geeting and Bernie O'Hare have argued for it.

The Lehigh Valley Tea Party published a voters guide last week that asks County Executive John Stoffa and Mario Martinez -- leader of the group opposing the sale -- the same series of questions. Not surprisingly, a lot of their answers were very different.

There's also a guide that the Morning Call published that lays out a lot of the debate surrounding the sale.

The Gracedale issue is informing this year's county council races as well. In most primary races, the candidates are unopposed, except for Easton area's District II, where Republican Councilman Mike Dowd -- who is in favor of selling Gracedale -- faces a challenge from Bill Whitman, a school administrator who opposes the sale.

Whoever wins today will face Democrat Robert Werner in the fall. District II includes Easton, Wilson, West Easton, Tatamy, Stockertown and Glendon, as well as Palmer, Forks and Williams townships.

And remember: even though state law keeps third-party/Independent voters from voting in most primary races, anyone who's a registered voter can have a say on Gracedale.

Where Do I Vote?

Nazareth

• Nazareth (Ward 1): Nazareth Borough Hall, 159 W. Center St.
• Nazareth (Ward 2): (Prospect Street entrance)
• Nazareth (Ward 3): (Prospect Street entrance)

Upper Nazareth Township

• Upper Nazareth Township (Eastern District):
• Upper Nazareth Township (Western District): Joseph Thoder Building, Gracedale

Lower Nazareth Township

• Lower Nazareth Township (District #1):
• Lower Nazareth Township (District #2):

Stockertown

• Stockertown Borough: Stockertown Borough Municipal Building, 209 Main St.

Tatamy

• Tatamy Borough: Hope Lutheran Church, 240 S. 8th St.

Bushkill Township

• Bushkill Township (Center District): cafeteria
• Bushkill Township (Cherry Hill District): cafeteria
• Bushkill Township (Clearfield District):

Plainfield Township

• Plainfield Township (Belfast District): Edelman’s Sportsman Club, 474 Sportsman Club Road, Belfast
• Plainfield Township (Delabole District): St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 1440 Verona Drive, West Bangor
• Plainfield Township (Kesslersville District): Benders Mennonite Church, 975 Benders Church Road
• Plainfield Township (Church District): St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1422 Church Road

Still not sure where you should go to vote? Go to the Pennsylvania Department of State website where you can enter your exact address to find out.

If you encounter any problems at the polls (such as voting machines that malfunction), let us know so we can check into it -- contact Mallory Vough at Mallory.Vough@patch.com or at (610) 390-9770.

Patch will report local election results as soon as they become available. Check back tonight for updates after the polls close.