Voting in Delaware

What's on your ballot?

Find out using Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Tool

Election Information


2025 election and voting dates
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

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 not have been adjudged mentally incompetent.
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. Anyone in line when the 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. Voters may sign an affidavit attesting to their identity instead of providing identification.^[4]^[5]

The following were accepted forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the Delaware Department of Elections page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

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 ....

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^[6]

”

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

An individual is eligible for an absentee/mail-in ballot for any of the following reasons:^[9]

“

I am in public service of the United States (U.S.) or the State of Delaware, or I am a citizen of the U.S. temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the U.S. and the District of Columbia, or such person’s spouse or dependent when residing with or accompanying such person, or absent from this State because of illness or injury while serving the armed forces of the U.S.
I am in the armed forces of the U.S. or the merchant marine of the US., or attached to and serving with the armed forces of the U.S. in the American Red Cross or United Service Organizations.
Due to the nature of my business or occupation. This reason includes:
- the business or occupation of providing care to my parent, spouse, or child who is living at home and requires constant care due to illness, disability, or injury;
- students; and
- otherwise eligible persons who are incarcerated.
I am sick or physically disabled (temporarily or permanently).
I am absent from the district while on vacation.
I am unable to vote at a certain time or on a certain day due to the tenets or teachings of my religion.
I am otherwise authorized pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citzens Absentee Voting Act to vote by absentee ballot.
I am otherwise authorized by federal law to vote by absentee ballot.^[6]

”

Certain of these voters are eligible for a permanent absentee voting status and may request to be added to the permanent list on their ballot application.^[9]

The deadline for eligible voters to request an absentee/mail-in ballot is no later than four days before an election.^[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.^[14] 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.^[15]

Contact information[edit]

Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

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: benjamin.warshaw@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]

Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.

Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.
Search bills
Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.

These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
Read the latest report
Subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.

The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Subscribe

Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2025 election coverage:

Democratic primaries 2026

Republican primaries 2026

External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

[1] Delaware Department of Elections, "Qualifications," accessed October 28, 2025

[faqs-2] Delaware Department of Elections, "Voter Registration," accessed October 28, 2025

[3] Delaware Code, "§ 4947. Time and manner of closing election," accessed October 28, 2025

[votid-4] Delaware.gov, "Voting in Delaware," accessed October 28, 2025

[dvid-5] Delaware Code, "§ 4937. Voting procedure," accessed October 28, 2025

[quotedisclaimer-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[7] WHYY, "Delaware Supreme Court restores access to early voting, permanent absentee voting," February 23, 2024

[delgovearly-8] Delaware.gov, "In unanimous ruling, Court sides with Jennings on voting rights," June 28, 2024

[absenteeapp-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Delaware Department of Elections, "Request for an Absentee Ballot for Primary, General and/or Special Elections," accessed October 28, 2025

[av-10] Delaware Department of Elections, "Absentee Voting," accessed October 28, 2025

[11] Delaware Online, "Delaware Supreme Court finds vote by mail, same-day registration unconstitutional," October 7, 2022

[12] Delaware Code Online, "Article V. Elections." accessed October 27, 2025

[cook-13] Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, "Higgin v. Albence: Memorandum Opinion," September 14, 2022

[14] Delaware Department of Elections, "Persons Convicted of a Felony," accessed October 28, 2025

[ncsl-15] National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," October 28, 2025

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

	v • e State of Delaware Dover (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? \| Elections in 2025 \| How to vote \| How to run for office \| Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? \| U.S. President \| U.S. Congress \| Federal courts \| State executives \| State legislature \| State and local courts \| Counties \| Cities \| School districts \| Public policy