21 Delaware towns cancel elections after seats go unopposed

If you harbored any fears that the elections of 2022 would be a raging repeat, on a local level, of the chaos of 2020, you’d be wrong.

So far, 21 of Delaware’s 57 cities and towns have canceled elections because each candidate was unopposed. That includes Newark.

When candidates run unopposed, so long as they meet all of the qualifications, they automatically assume office and the election is no longer necessary. 

Nine of Delaware’s municipalities already held their 2022 elections, and eight do not have elections in 2022. 

Not all city and municipal elections are on the same day, but many are in April and May.

There are 11 towns that are still accepting candidates, and most require candidates to file this month.

Here’s a look at what’s happening.

Elections canceled because seats were unopposed

• Bethel
• Bridgeville
• Camden
• Cheswold
• Dagsboro
• Ellendale
• Farmington
• Frankford
• Frederica
• Hartly
• Houston
• Kenton
• Leipsic
• Little Creek
• Magnolia
• Newark
• Ocean View
• South Bethany
• Viola
• Woodside
• Wyoming

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Towns that already had municipal elections 

• Blades
• Delaware City
• Greenwood
• Middletown
• Millville
• Milton
• Newport
• Odessa
• Selbyville

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Municipalities without 2022 elections

• Delmar
• Dewey Beach
• Dover
• Elsmere
• Felton
• Laurel
• New Castle
• Wilmington

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Towns with multiple elections this year

• Village of Arden
• Village of Ardencroft
• Village of Ardentown

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Towns with upcoming elections:

Bellefonte

• Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Location: Bellefonte Town Hall Annex
• Positions available: Town treasurer, tax collector, 3 town commissioner seats, 
• Deadline to file: Saturday, May 7, 2022, at 6 p.m.
• Click here for more information

Bethany Beach

• Date: Saturday, May 14, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available.

Bowers Beach

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available

Clayton

• Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Location: Clayton Town Hall
• Positions available: 2 council seats with 2-year terms
• Deadline to file: Tuesday, April 5 at 4:30 p.m.
• Click here for more information

Fenwick Island

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available.

Georgetown

• Date: Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Positions available: Wards 3 and 4 councilmembers
• Filing deadline: Thursday, April 14, 2022, at 5 p.m.
• Click here for more information

Harrington

• Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
• Location: Harrington City Hall
• Positions available: Council District 1, Council District 3, both have 3-year terms
• Deadline to file: April 5, 2022 at 4 p.m.
• Click here for more information

Henlopen Acres

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available.

Lewes

• Date: Saturday, May 14, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available.

Milford

• Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Location: City Public Works Facility
• Contested position: Ward 1 councilmember
• Uncontested positions: Mayor, ward 2, 3 and 4 councilmembers
• Notes: There being only one candidate for the Office of Mayor and the Office of City Council in Wards Two, Three, and Four, those candidates are entitled to assume office without a formal election pursuant to 15 Del.C. 7555(j) and following a declaration by the City of Milford Board of Election. The deadline to file has passed.
• Click here for more information

Millsboro

• Date: Saturday, June 11, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available.

Rehoboth Beach

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available.

Seaford

• Date: Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Seaford City Council Chambers
• Contested positions: Mayor, councilmember
• Notes: The filing deadline has passed.
• Click here for more information

Slaughter Beach

• Date: Saturday, July 2, 2022
• Notes: No additional information is available.

Smyrna 

• Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: Smyrna Town Hall
• Positions available: District 1 council seat with 3-year term, at-large council seat with 3-year term
• Notes: The deadline to file for this election has passed. 
• Click here for more information

Townsend

• Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Location: Townsend Town Hall
• Positions available: 2 council positions for 2-year term, 1 council position open for 1-year term
• Deadline to file: Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 4:30 p.m.
• Click here for more information