Early voting in Delaware begins at the end of October.
Here’s a breakdown of the recent voting changes, how to learn about the candidates on your ballot and where to find your polling place.
Didn’t the Delaware Supreme Court make a major decision recently? What was that?
The state’s highest court struck down recent vote-by-mail and same-day voter registration legislation. This means Delaware will return to its more limited, pre-pandemic voting setup where one must vote in person or have an excuse to vote absentee and one must register weeks in advance of an election to cast a ballot.
The debate over these voting changes, enacted by lawmakers this past summer, centered on whether Delaware’s constitution would allow all registered voters to cast their ballot through the mail as well as whether allowing people to register to vote all the way up to Election Day is allowed by the provisions of that document.
This means Delawareans needed to register to vote by Oct. 15 in order to be able to vote in the election.
How many days of early voting does Delaware have? When does early voting start?
Early voting in Delaware begins Oct. 28 and lasts until Nov. 6.
Here is where you can find the early voting polling locations. From Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, these locations are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. From Nov. 2 to Nov. 6, they are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where can I find my polling place for Election Day?
On Election Day, on Nov. 8, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here’s where you can find your polling place.
Which races are on the ballot this year?
Here’s a list of midterm races:
U.S. House of Representatives
Attorney General
Auditor
State Treasurer
General Assembly (Every lawmaker is up for reelection)
New Castle County Sheriff
New Castle County, District 2
Recorder of Deeds
Register of Wills
Kent County Sheriff
Levy Court District At-Large
Levy Court District 2
Levy Court District 4
Sussex Sheriff
County Council District 4
County Council District 5
How can I find out who will be on my ballot?
There are two ways you can figure out what races will appear on your ballot.
The first is using vote411.org, a nonpartisan website where you can learn more about the races in your area. This website stems from a partnership with The League of Women Voters and Delaware Online/The News Journal.
You can also find a sample ballot through the state’s Department of Elections.
Do I have to show ID to vote in Delaware?
Though Delaware voters are asked to show identification when they arrive at a polling place, the state does not actually have a photo ID law. If a voter arrives at their correct polling place without a form of ID, such as a polling place card, driver’s license or passport, they must sign an affidavit affirming their identity if their name is on the poll list.
Can people who have been convicted of felonies vote in Delaware?
For around 20 years, people who have been convicted of felonies have had the right to vote. There are instances were certain felonies disqualify people, including murder or manslaughter and abuse of office.
How do I get an absentee ballot in Delaware?
Despite vote by mail being ruled unconstitutional, absentee ballot is still allowed in Delaware. The state requires people who vote by absentee to provide an eligible excuse about why they cannot vote in person.
Click here or go to vote.de.gov to request an absentee ballot.
