Delaware Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Delaware Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Delaware voting rules and options. It focuses on Delaware-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Delaware voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Delaware voting tools. It's an all-in-one Delaware voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- online
- by mail
- in person at your local election office
- at a mobile registration event
- in person at a number of other government offices, including DMV offices, WIC Program offices, State Services offices and Armed Service Recruitment offices.
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day.
[Find my polling place] (https://ivote.de.gov/voterview)
Early Voting
Early voting in-person is offered for at least ten days before an election. The last day to vote early is the Sunday before the election.
Absentee Voting
Any registered voter can vote absentee by filling out and signing an absentee affidavit based on the following valid reasons:
- You are sick, or temporarily or permanently physically disabled
- Your business or occupation is providing care to your parent, spouse or child who is living at home and requires constant care.
- You are a student.
- You are incarcerated.
- You are on vacation.
- You are in the public service of the US or the State of Delaware.
- You are temporarily residing outside of the US and the District of Columbia.
- You are absent from the state because of illness or injury received while serving in the armed forces of the U.S.
- You are a member of the U. S. Armed Forces, the American Red Cross, the U. S. O. or the U. S. Merchant Marine.
- You are a spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying a person temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia.
In September 2022, a judge ruled that the new vote-by-mail law is unconstitutional and cannot be used in the November 2022 General Election. This ruling does not effect eligibility for the above situations.
An absentee affidavit can be obtained by mail or in person at your county department
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Delaware if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are a resident of Delaware
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
You are NOT eligible to vote in Delaware if:
- You are currently serving a sentence including incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision for a felony conviction
- A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.
Restorative Requirements
- For felonies not involving moral turpitude, if your sentence is completed, including parole, probation, and community supervision, you may register to vote and cast a ballot.
- For felonies of moral turpitude, you must apply for a formal pardon from the Governor to have your voting rights restored, only after your full sentence is completed, including parole or probation.
You may preregister to vote in Delaware
- At the age 16
- At the age of 17
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Delaware if:
- You reside in Delaware but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Delaware
Identification Requirements
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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Overseas / Military Voter Information
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
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
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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |