Delaware

Election Day: 

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Election Day. 

Delaware does not currently allow “no-excuse” vote by mail, but you may vote by absentee ballot prior to the election if you qualify for absentee voting.

How to Find Your Polling Place: Visit the State of Delaware’s polling place location web page at: https://ivote.de.gov/VoterView 

You can vote in any polling place in your county during early voting. You must vote at your assigned polling place on Election Day.

Registration Deadlines:

You must register on or before the fourth Saturday before a primary election, presidential primary election, or other primary election. 

How to Check Your Registration:

Use https://ivote.de.gov/voterlogin.aspx or call 866-OUR-VOTE. 

Registration Eligibility: 

In order to be eligible to register in Delaware, you must be: 

• A citizen of the United States;
• A bona fide resident of Delaware, which means that Delaware is your home (even if you are homeless or do not have a fixed residence);
• At least 18 years old on or before Election Day;
• Not convicted of a disqualifying felony (murder or manslaughter (except homicide)), offenses against public administration involving bribery or improper influence or abuse of an office and sexual offenses, unless having been pardoned);
• Convicted of a non-disqualifying felony and have fully discharged one’s sentence. 
• NOTE: Payment of any fees, fines, costs, or restitution which a felony offender may be required to pay as part of the criminal sanctions imposed on such offender is NOT considered in determining discharge or sentence of purposes of eligibility to register to vote. 
• Not declared mentally incompetent through a judicial proceeding; and 
• There is no duration of residence requirement in Delaware; you may register to vote the first day that you move to the state.

How to Register: Delaware does not have automatic voter registration. Delaware residents may register online, by mail, or in person at certain government offices. 

To register online visit Delaware’s Register to Vote website. Online registration may still require you to print, sign, and mail applications.

To register by mail, you may request the registration form from your County’s Department of Elections office and return the form to that office. A list of offices is available at the following link: https://elections.delaware.gov/locations.shtml

You may also register to vote in person at several state agencies, including DMV offices offering driver’s license and state ID services, Department of Elections offices, and (when accessing their services) the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Labor: Division of Training and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, WIC program offices, armed forces recruitment offices, and some Social Security offices. 

Identification Required for Registration: In order to register, you must provide either a valid Delaware driver’s license or Delaware state identification number, or another document that shows your name and address, including a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck. 

Voters registering using the online National Voter Registration Form must include on the form the voter’s Delaware driver’s license number or nonoperating identification number.  If the voter has neither, the voter must provide the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number.  If the voter has none of these numbers, the voter should write “NONE” on the form and the state will assign a unique identifying number.

If you are registering to vote by mail, and it is the first time that you are registering to vote in Delaware, you must submit a copy of one of the following with your application: 

• A current and valid photo identification;
• A current utility bill;
• A current bank statement;
• A current government check;
• A current paycheck; or 
• Any other current government-issued document that shows your name and address. 

If you do not provide one of the above forms of identification when you register, you must provide such identification the first time you vote in a federal election. 

If You Want to Vote Absentee, requests may be made:

• In-Person
• By Mail
• By Fax
• By Email
• Online

Absentee Ballots may be returned:

• In-Person
• By Mail

NOTE: IN OCTOBER OF 2022, DELAWARE COURTS STRUCK DOWN BOTH VOTE-BY-MAIL AND SAME-DAY REGISTRATION. IT IS NO LONGER AN OPTION TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT POLLING PLACES OR TO SUBMIT A BALLOT VIA UNIVERSAL “VOTE-BY-MAIL”. INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO SUBMIT AN ABSENTEE BALLOT WITH AN EXCUSE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS MAY DO SO VIA THE MAIL.

If You Want to Vote Early

Delaware law does not allow “no excuse” voting by mail but you may vote by absentee ballot prior to the election if you qualify for an absentee ballot. Delaware also offers Early Voting for ten (10) days preceding an election. 
Delaware voters who wish to vote in person at an Early Voting Site during the ten-day early voting period.. Voters may choose to vote at any Early Voting Site in their county of residence. For the location and hours for Early Voting Sites, voters should call their county Elections Department office or check here.

If You Want to Vote Absentee 

You can qualify to vote by absentee ballot if any of the following applies to you: 

• You are a U.S. Citizen in public service of the United States or Delaware, including the armed forces, merchant marines, or American Red Cross (or such person’s spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying such person), and you are absent from Delaware due to your service;
• The nature of your business or occupation (including the business of providing care to your parent, spouse, or child who is living at home and requires constant care due to illness, disability, or injury). This includes students who are away at college. 
• You are sick or physically disabled; 
• You are absent from your polling location because you are on vacation;
• You are unable to vote at a certain time or on a certain day due to your religious beliefs;
• You are otherwise authorized by federal law, including the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to vote by absentee ballot. 

Request for absentee ballots may be made online at: https://ivote.de.gov/

In-Person: If you qualify for an absentee ballot, you may be able to vote absentee in person at the Department of Elections for your County. Contact the Department of Elections for your County to determine the hours for voting and availability of absentee ballots. General hours are between 8:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on normal business days. The last day to vote absentee in person is by 12:00 P.M. on the day prior to the election.

NOTE: With the introduction of early voting, voting by absentee in person in county election offices is offered upon request to voters unable to vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day or during the Early Voting period. If you have already received an absentee ballot, but want to vote in person on Election Day, please contact the Department of Elections for your county and request to cancel the absentee ballot. When you arrive at the polling palace, inform the poll worker that you have requested an absentee ballot. The poll worker will look up your voting status in the poll book. If you requested an absentee ballot but did not return it, the poll worker will contact the Department to cancel the absentee ballot and you will be permitted to vote at the polling place. If your ballot has already been returned to the Department and is being prepared to be counted, you will not be permitted to vote at the polling place.

By Mail: You may also request an absentee ballot be mailed to you. The Department of Elections office for your county must receive the voter’s absentee ballot before the polls close on Election Day in order for the ballot to be counted. 

Drop-Off Locations: You may return a completed absentee ballot by dropping it off at your county election office. If you need assistance dropping off your completed ballot, you may have someone else return the completed ballot. Ballots must be back at the county office that issued them by 8:00 P.M. on Election Day in order for it to be counted. There are no ballot drop boxes, now that vote by mail has been eliminated.  

Lost or Spoiled Ballots: If you make a mistake or “spoil” your ballot, and have not yet cast the ballot, you have the right to receive a replacement ballot after returning the spoiled ballot. You should contact the Department of Elections for your county if you have spoiled, lost, or received an incorrect ballot. 

Non-Receipt of Ballot:  If you have requested an absentee ballot but have not received it, you should contact the Department of Elections for your county. Alternatively, voters who are members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members and other U.S. citizens residing outside of the U.S. may fill out and send in a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). The FWAB can be used to register to vote and to vote. If you are using a FWAB, it must meet the following Federal Election deadlines: 

• Registration:
  • By Mail: Postmarked by August 26, 2024 for the September 10, 2024 state primary and postmarked by October 21, 2024 for the November 5, 2024 general election.
  • By Email or Fax: Received by 11:59 p.m. on August 26, 2024 for the September 10, 2024 state primary and by 11:59 p.m. on October 21, 2024 for the November 5, 2024 general election.
• Absentee Ballot Request:
  • Submit request online (at ivote.de.gov), by email or fax by noon on September 9, 2024 for the September 10, 2024 state primary and by noon on November 4, 2024 for the November 5, 2024 general election.
  • Return request by mail so it is received by 4:30 p.m. September 6, 2024 for the September 10, 2024 state primary and by 4:30 p.m. November 1, 2024 for the November 5, 2024 general election.

Additional information concerning absentee voting is available at: https://www.fvap.gov/guide/chapter2/delaware

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Delaware you should provide one of the following:

• Your Delaware Driver’s License Number
• Your Delaware ID Number

If you do not have these IDs, you may provide:

• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

If you are registering to vote for the first time by mail, you will need to provide a copy of a valid ID. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• Bank, credit card, rent or mortgage statement dated within 30 days of the Election
• Current and Valid Photo ID
• Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Government Check, or Paycheck that Shows your current name and address
• Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address

You can alternatively show one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.

Voting In-Person

If you are registered to vote in Delaware, you are not required to show ID to vote, but it is recommended that you bring along with you an ID from this list:

• Polling Place Card
• Valid US Passport
• Valid Delaware Vehicle Registration
• Social Security Card
• Credit Card with Photo
• Valid Delaware Driver’s License
• Valid Delaware non-driver’s ID
• Similar document that identifies the person by photo or signature

Photo identification is not required to vote in Delaware.  When appearing to vote, you will be asked to present proof of your identity, but if you do not have identification, you may sign an affidavit that you are the person listed on the voting rolls, and you will then be permitted to vote by regular ballot.  If your eligibility to vote at the applicable election district cannot be determined, you will be permitted to vote by provisional ballot.  In order for your provisional ballot to count, you must subsequently provide valid identification.

If both (1) it is your first time voting at a polling place in the State, and (2) you registered to vote by mail and your application did not include the required identification documentation, at the polling place you must provide a valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address. 

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Moving within the Same County

If you have moved within the same county, you must vote at the polling place for your new residence or address. Poll workers will assist you in completing a form to update the address in your voter registration record. The update will be completed by the Department of Elections after Election Day. 

Moving Between Counties

If you have moved between counties, you will be permitted to vote at the polling place for your new residence or address. Poll workers will assist you in updating the address in your voter registration record. When moving, it is advisable to update your voter registration information as soon as possible at https://ivote.de.gov/VoterView.

Without a Fixed Residence
Anyone lacking a fixed residence or who is unhoused and is otherwise qualified to vote in Delaware may register by completing the proper registration forms and providing two pieces of identification containing their name; one of the pieces must include the mailing address on the application, which may be a shelter or agency.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Military and other overseas citizens may use the standard procedure for absentee voting, but there are also special provisions for members of the U.S. Armed Forced and merchant marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with family members of all these groups, and other citizens who reside outside of the United States (together these groups are called UOCAVA voters). 

Registering and Requesting an Absentee Ballot

UOCAVA voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot. Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s FVAP Delaware page at: https://www.fvap.gov/delaware.

UOCAVA voters may also register to vote and request an absentee ballot through Delaware’s Uniformed Service and Overseas Citizen Voter website at https://ivote.de.gov. Additional information is available at https://www.fvap.gov/guide/chapter2/delaware. 

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot 

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is a backup ballot that can be used by UOCAVA voters. You can use this FWAB whether you are located inside or outside the United States (including Army Post Office and Fleet Post Office addresses), provided that you are away from your voting residence for service-related activities. For specific instructions, visit https://www.fvap.gov/guide/chapter2/delaware. 

As noted above, you are able to register to vote even if you have been convicted of a felony, but only if you:

(1) have not been convicted of a “disqualifying felony” (murder or manslaughter (except vehicular homicide), offenses against public administration involving bribery or improper influence or abuse of office, and sexual offenses); unless you have received a pardon and/or

(2) You have fully discharged your sentence. Payment of any fees, fines, costs, or restitution which a felony offender may be required to pay as part of the criminal sanctions imposed on such offender is NOT considered in determining discharge of sentence for purposes of eligibility to register to vote.  

To determine whether you are eligible to register to vote, contact the Department of Elections at (302) 739-4277.