Voting In Delaware
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Delaware:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information for election agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on elections happening this year, click here.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration[edit]
Eligibility and registration details[edit]
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Delaware, an individual must meet the following requirements:[1]
- The individual must be a United States citizen.
- The individual must be a resident of Delaware.
- The individual must be 18 years of age by Election Day.
- The individual must be mentally competent.
- The individual must not be under a felony sentence or convicted of a disqualifying felony.
According to the Delaware Department of Elections, "The voter registration deadline is the 4th Saturday before a Primary and General Election. Voter registration applications submitted via the voter portal, ivote.de.gov, by the deadline, or received by mail by the Department and postmarked by the deadline, will be considered to be submitted by the deadline."[2]
In-person voting[edit]
Poll times[edit]
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
In Delaware, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Voter identification[edit]
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Delaware requires voters to present non-photo identification while voting.[4][5]
As of October 2025, the state website said:[4]
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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:
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:
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Early voting[edit]
- See also: Early voting
Delaware permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
On June 28, 2024, the Delaware Supreme Court struck down a ruling from the Delaware Superior Court and reinstated early voting in the state. In a 5-0 decision, the court ruled that plaintiffs failed to prove that they would be harmed by laws permitting early voting, and therefore had no standing to sue. The decision, therefore, did not rule on the lower court's determination that early voting was prohibited by the Delaware Constitution.[7] The court agreed to hear the case on an expedited basis to provide clarity to voters and election administrators before the November election.[8] To read more about this case, see here.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
The deadline for eligible voters to request an absentee/mail-in ballot is no later than four days before an election.[9]
According to the state's absentee/mail-in ballot application, an individual is eligible for any of the following reasons:[10]
| “ |
Uniformed and Overseas Citzens Absentee Voting Act to vote by absentee ballot.
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Certain of these voters are eligible for a permanent absentee/mail-in voting status and may request to be added to the permanent list on their ballot application.[10]
On October 7, 2022, the Delaware Supreme Court struck down a state law allowing any registered voter to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot.[11]
On eligibility, Article V, Section 4A, of the Delaware Constitution reads:[12][13]
| “ | The General Assembly shall enact general laws providing that any qualified elector of this State, duly registered, who shall be unable to appear to cast his or her ballot at any general election at the regular polling place of the election district in which he or she is registered, either because of being in the public service of the United States or of this State, or his or her spouse or dependents when residing with or accompanying him or her because of the nature of his or her business or occupation, because of his or her sickness or physical disability, because of his or her absence from the district while on vacation, or because of the tenets or teachings of his or her religion, may cast a ballot at such general election to be counted in such election district.[6] | ” |
Local election officials[edit]
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]
- See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony
In Delaware, some felonies permanently disqualify the people who commit them from voting, including murder, bribery, and sexual offenses. People who commit a felony not permanently disqualifying them from voting may reclaim their rights with the completion of their sentence or a pardon, whichever comes first. Click here for a list of Delaware's disqualifying offenses.
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[14]
Election administration agencies[edit]
Election agencies[edit]
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Delaware can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Delaware Department of Elections
- Click here for a list
Office of the State Election Commissioner
- 905 S. Governors Ave, Suite 170
- Dover, DE 19904
- Phone: 302-739-4277
- Fax: 302-739-6794
- Email: coe_vote@state.de.us
- Website: http://elections.delaware.gov/
Public Integrity Commission
- 410 Federal Street, Suite 3
- Dover, DE 19901
- Phone: 302-739-2399
- Fax: 302-739-2398
- Email: Deborah.Moreau@delaware.gov
- Website: http://depic.delaware.gov/
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]
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Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2026
See also[edit]
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Voter ID in Delaware
- Election administration in Delaware
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Delaware
Elections in Delaware[edit]
- Delaware elections, 2025
- Delaware elections, 2024
- Delaware elections, 2023
- Delaware elections, 2022
- Delaware elections, 2021
- Delaware elections, 2020
- Delaware elections, 2019
- Delaware elections, 2018
- Delaware elections, 2017
- Delaware elections, 2016
- Delaware elections, 2015
- Delaware elections, 2014
External links[edit]
- Official state election website
- U.S. Vote Foundation election official lookup tool
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ Office of the State Election Commissioner , "Qualifications," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Delaware Department of Elections, "Voter Registration," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Delaware Code, "Title 15, Chapter 49, Section 4947," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Delaware.gov, "Voting in Delaware," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Delaware Code, "Title 15, Chapter 49 Conduct of Elections § 4937 Voting procedure," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ WHYY, "Delaware Supreme Court restores access to early voting, permanent absentee voting," February 23, 2024
- ↑ Delaware.gov, "In unanimous ruling, Court sides with Jennings on voting rights," June 28, 2024
- ↑ State of Delaware Department of Elections, "Absentee Voting," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 State of Delaware Department of Elections, "Request for an Absentee Ballot for Primary, General and/or Special Elections," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Delaware Online, "Delaware Supreme Court finds vote by mail, same-day registration unconstitutional," October 7, 2022
- ↑ Delaware Code Online, "Article V. Elections." accessed April 6, 2023
- ↑ Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, "Higgin v. Albence: Memorandum Opinion," September 14, 2022
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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