Voting in Delaware
Voting is an important civic duty. Whether you are new to Delaware or just new to voting, here is what you need to know about registering to vote, ways to vote including Early Voting, Absentee Voting, and voting at your Polling Place on Election Day, finding an Early Voting Site or Polling Place, finding your local elected officials, reporting election complaints, and more.
You must be registered to vote in order to vote in state and federal elections in Delaware. Delawareans are automatically registered to vote at the DMV when they are getting their license or State ID, but you also have the options to register online, by mail, or in person. The last day to register to vote before a Primary and General Election is the 4th Saturday before the election. Make sure you exercise your right to vote!
Vote By Absentee Ballot
Applying for an Absentee Ballot
The Department of Elections offers various ways to apply for an absentee ballot: mail, email, fax, or online.
Online:
- Go to https://ivote.de.gov/ and enter your identification information.
- Click on "Absentee Ballot".
- Accept the terms of use by clicking “Next”.
- Under “Vote by Absentee Ballot”, choose the reason you qualify to vote by absentee ballot and the method by which you would like your ballot delivered (if applicable, based on the reason you qualify to vote by absentee ballot).
- Continue through step 3 - 7.
- You're done. The Department of Elections will process your request then send you an absentee ballot via your selected method.
Mail, fax, or email:
Either using the paper application or downloading the form Request an Absentee Ballot
- Answer the voter information questions
- Choose the reason you qualify to vote by absentee ballot and the method by which you would like your ballot delivered (if applicable, based on the reason you qualify to vote by absentee ballot).
- Email, mail or fax the completed form to the Elections office in your county. Contact information for each county is located here
- You're done. The Department of Elections will process your request then send you an absentee ballot via your selected method.
Review your registration, request an absentee ballot, or check the status of your absentee ballot at ivote.de.gov
At the Polls
Find Your Polling Place
There are four ways to find your polling place
- The building listed on your polling place card is your polling place.
- Use this tool to find your polling place by entering your voter registration information.
- Use this tool to find your polling place by entering your home address.
- View the Department of Elections locations to find your polling place contact number for your county.
Voting Hours
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for general, special, and primary elections.
Photo ID is not required to vote.
Identification
When arriving at a polling place, a poll worker will ask you for proof of identity. A photo ID is not required.
Examples of acceptable IDs:
- Delaware Driver’s License
- Delaware Identification Card
- U.S. Passport
- Signed Polling Place card
- Signed Social Security card
- Signed vehicle registration
- Signed credit card with photo
- If you are unable to or decline to provide proof of identity and your name appears on the poll list for your Election District, you may complete an Affidavit of Voter Identity, and you will be permitted to vote.
Electioneering
Delaware voting code prohibits campaigning within 50 feet of any Early Voting Site and Polling Place entrance that voters use. This includes supporting or opposing a candidate, a political party, or any political issue in any way (i.e. wearing apparel, hats, buttons, etc. chanting, holding signs).
How to Use the Voting Machine
Since May 14, 2019, Delaware has voted on the ExpressVote XL. Watch a demonstration of the ExpressVote XL voting machine in this video.
Contact the Department of Elections
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French St Suite 400
Wilmington DE 19801
100 Enterprise Pl Ste 5
Dover DE 19904
119 N. Race St
P.O. Box 457
Georgetown DE 19947
Anthony J. Albence
905 S. Governors Ave Ste 170
Dover DE 19904
General Information
Find your polling place at ivote.de.gov.
Early Voting
Early Voting is available for a period of ten days prior to general, primary and special elections with the final days of Early Voting scheduled for the Saturday and Sunday just prior to the date of the election. Check https://elections.delaware.gov/elections/votinglocations.shtml for Early Voting Schedule. You may vote at any of the Early Voting Sites listed in your county.
When arriving at an Early Voting Site, a poll worker will ask you for proof of identity. A photo ID is not required.
Permitted forms of identification include current:
- Valid Photo ID
- Copy of utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check, paycheck, or other government document that displays your address
Voting Hours
Early Voting Sites are open the first 5 days of Early Voting from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the last 5 days of Early Voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Elected Officials
Use this tool to find your State Representative or State Senator.
National Elected Officials
State Elected Officials
Provisional Ballot
What is a provisional ballot?
A provisional ballot may be used when a voter is attempting to vote in an Election District in which the voter claims to be properly registered, but the voter's name does not appear on the poll list. Provisional Ballots are only used in elections for Federal offices, such as President, Vice President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. Representative in Congress. Provisional Ballots cannot be used for offices in local elections.
Eligibility Requirements
A person claiming to be properly registered in an Election District, but whose eligibility to vote at that Election District cannot be determined, is entitled to vote a provisional ballot. Please note: Provisional ballots are for Federal offices only.
How to vote with a Provisional Ballot
- To be permitted to vote with a Provisional Ballot, you must:
- Provide identification. Permitted forms of identification include current:
- Valid Photo ID
- Copy of utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check, paycheck, or other government document that displays your address
- Sign an affidavit to confirm that you are registered to vote in that election district and in that Federal election.
How Provisional Ballots are Tallied
- On the day following the election, Department of Elections staff in each county office review the provisional ballots cast to determine which Provisional Ballots are valid.
- Within 30 days, information about which Provisional Ballots were not counted and the reasons why will be made available to the public by the State Election Commissioner.
Voters With Disabilities
Delaware is committed to providing its citizens with:
- Accessible early voting sites and polling places
- Accessible voting machines
- Assistance when requested
Read the Voting in Delaware Guide for Citizens with Disabilities.
Report Election Complaints
If you encountered an issue regarding any topic covered by Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 you may issue a formal complaint.
The complaint must be submitted to the Office of State Election Commissioner or your county Department of Election. The complaint must be:
- In writing
- Notarized
- Signed and sworn by the voter filing the complaint
- You may also request a hearing regarding the complaint
You will be notified when your complaint is received. The State Election Commissioner will assign someone to investigate the issue. Any violations found will be reported to the State Election Commissioner along with a recommended course of action to correct the violation. If no violations are discovered, the complaint will be dismissed.
For more information on filing a complaint, visit Delaware's Elections website.
Report Voter Intimidation
The Delaware Department of Justice, state and local law enforcement, and the Department of Elections strictly enforces Delaware’s voter intimidation laws in order to ensure that Delawareans are able to vote safely, fairly, and peacefully.
Voters who are concerned about a perceived threat to their safety should call 911; voters who are concerned about any other problem can contact the Department of Elections’ voter hotline at (302) 739-4277.
The DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust (DCRPT) has provided law enforcement with written guidance listing possible Title 11 and Title 15 offenses that could be encountered on Election Day. DOJ inspectors in all three counties will staff the hotline for law enforcement to contact in the event of illegal activity
Results and Statistics
Results and Statistics for the most recent election can be found on the Elections website.
For more information about voting in Delaware visit the Department of Elections website.
Voter Registration
Register to Vote
To register to vote in Delaware, you can register:
Online:
By Mail:
In Person (various locations):
- At the Department of Elections Office in your County
- At the DMV when you are updating your driver’s license
- At any State Service Center (DHSS)
- At the Department of Labor (DOL)
- At the State Election Commissioner
- All locations
You can register to vote:
- Anytime except after the 4th Saturday before a Primary and General Election and the day of the election.
Update Your Voter Record
You can update your voter registration through the Voter Portal.
You can update your voter record:
- Any time before an election
- At your polling place on Election Day
You can change your political party affiliation:
- Before a primary election
- Anytime except from the last Saturday in May until the date of the Primary Election
- Before a Presidential Primary
- Anytime except from the 59th day before the Presidential Primary through the date of the Election.
- If you were automatically registered to vote at DMV through the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) process, you may choose a political party through the day of the first primary election following your automatic voter registration at DMV in order to vote in that primary election.
Cancel a Voter Registration
For yourself:
Submit this online request.
OR
Complete this form and submit it to the Department of Elections in your county.
For a close relative who has passed away or moved out of state:
Submit this online request.
OR
Complete this form and submit it to the Department of Elections in your county.
