How To Vote In Delaware's Upcoming Elections

Two new laws allow mail-in voting and same-day voter registration. (Delaware LIVE News)

Delaware voters have several options to cast their ballots in the upcoming primary and general elections thanks to two new laws passed during the General Assembly’s most recent legislative session.

Senate Bill 320 created an opt-in vote-by-mail system wherein voters have to request a ballot before one is sent. Under the law, ballots and ballot applications will never be automatically mailed to voters under the bill.

After a voter makes the request, the Department of Elections mails a ballot, which the voter may complete and return by mail or at one of many designated ballot drop boxes throughout the state.

Voters are required to verify their identity on the ballot by including either the last four digits of their social security number or their driver’s license number.

That provision of the law is thanks to Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover, who kept the Senate in session overnight to reach a compromise.

“In smaller states like Delaware, there is tremendous potential for fraud with mail-in and absentee ballots,” Bonini told Delaware LIVE News. “By requiring identification that can be verified, it’s not perfect, but it’s dramatically better than it was.”

Bonini emphasized that the Department of Elections will handle private information in a secure manner.

“The bottom line is that we can verify that the person who’s voting is actually the person they say they are,” he said. “I just think that’s critical.”

House Substitute 1 for House Bill 25 eliminated the state’s deadline which required voters to register or update their registration by the fourth Saturday prior to an election.

Under the new law, voters may register to vote or update their registration up to or on election day.

Both provisions face legal challenges but, as of now, remain in effect for this year’s primary and general elections.

Ways to vote

In-person at your polling place on election day
In-person early at designated early voting locations
Request a mail-in ballot and return it through the mail
Request a mail-in ballot and return it in person at a ballot drop box
Request a traditional absentee ballot

More information about each voting method can be found below.

Voter registration

This year, you may register to vote until election day.

Eligible individuals may register at any time, including when they go to vote at an early voting site or at their polling place on election day.

Not yet registered? Click here to register online. Unsure of your registration status? Click here.

To submit your registration application by mail, follow the instructions here.

You can also register at certain government offices, such as DMVs or state service centers. Click here for a complete list of places to register.

You may register at your polling place on election day. Unsure of your polling location? Click here.

Primary election

The primary election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

For a list of candidates, click here.

As always, you may vote in person at your designated polling location. Unsure of your polling location? Click here.

Primary election vote-by-mail

You may vote by mail without a reason by requesting a ballot from the Department of Elections. Postage for the ballot envelope containing the voted ballot is paid by the Department of Elections.

Voters should request a mail-in ballot no later than seven days prior to the primary election.

Click here to request a mail-in ballot.

Primary election ballot drop boxes

If there is any doubt about whether your mail-in ballot will be delivered by election day, you should hand-deliver it to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election day.

Drop boxes are located in the publicly accessible areas at each Department of Elections location, listed below.

Drop boxes are only available during office hours — Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — and will remain available to access if offices are working extended hours.

Primary election ballot drop box locations include:

New Castle County
- Carvel State Office Building
  - Drop box in building lobby and drop box in Suite 400
  - 820 North French Street Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19801
- Department of Elections
  - 220 Lisa Drive, New Castle, DE 19720

Kent County
- Department of Elections
  - 100 Enterprise Place Suite 5, Dover, DE 19904
- Election Commissioner’s office
  - 905 South Governors Avenue Suite 170, Dover, DE 19904

Sussex County
- Department of Elections
  - 119 North Race Street, Georgetown, DE 19947
- Department of Elections Georgetown warehouse*
  - 542 S Bedford Street, Georgetown, DE 19947
- Department of Elections Seaford warehouse*
  - 200 Allen Street, Seaford, DE 19973

*Available during early voting hours only. Please check schedule at this link.

Primary election absentee ballots

If you are out of state for college, business, military service, or other reason, you can have an absentee ballot sent to you where you are. Click here to request an absentee ballot.

Primary election early voting

If you are unable to vote on election day, you may vote early, in-person, at the following locations. You may go to any early voting location in the county in which you reside.

Hours of operation are listed below the early voting sites.

New Castle County
- Gunning Bedford Middle School: 801 Cox Neck Rd, New Castle DE 19720
- Claymont Community Center: 3301 Green St, Claymont DE 19703
- Dept. of Elections warehouse: 220 Lisa Dr, New Castle DE 19720
- Hudson State Service Center: 501 Ogletown Rd, Newark DE 19711
- Shipyard Shops: 912 Justison St, Wilmington DE 19801
Kent County
- Frederica Senior Center: 216 Market St, Frederica, DE 19946
- Houston Fire Company: 143 Broad St, Houston DE 19954
- Dept. of Elections Kent County office: 100 Enterprise Place Suite 5, Dover DE 19904
Sussex County
- Millville Community Center: 32517 Dukes Drive, Millville DE 19967
- Lewes Fire Department Station #2: 32198 Janice Rd, Lewes DE 19958
- Laurel Fire Hall: 205 W. 10th St, Laurel DE 19956
- Dept. of Elections Georgetown warehouse: 542 South Bedford St, Georgetown DE 19947
- Dept. of Elections Seaford warehouse: 200 Allen St, Seaford DE 19973

Primary election early voting hours of operation:

Wednesday, Aug. 31: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 1: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 2: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 3: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 6: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 7: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 8: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 11: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

General election

The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

You may vote in person at your polling place, at an early voting location, by mail or by placing your mail-in ballot in a designated ballot drop box.

Unsure of your polling location? Click here.

Early voting locations for the general election have not yet been announced. This story will be updated once that information is available.