Voting Guide

Voter Registration Deadline: 

Delaware requires registration by the end of Election Day to vote in that election. Voters may register online or by mail, though application forms must be received on or before Election Day. They can also register and cast a ballot at an early voting location or at the polls on Election Day. For more information, visit: https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/votereg.shtml.

2022

• General Election: November 8

Students have a decision about where to register to vote.

You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.

You may only be registered and vote in one location.

Delaware’s mail-in voter registration form asks for your Delaware driver’s license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. The online voter registration form requires a Delaware driver’s license or ID number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.

Voters registering for the first time in Delaware and returning their registration application by mail must submit a copy of one of the following with their registration form:

• Delaware-issued driver's license or state ID card

• Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the registrant's name and address

Voters will be asked to show proof of identity when checking in to vote, but they may sign an affirmation of identity if they do not have acceptable proof of identity.

Delaware does not have an established list of acceptable forms of ID or proof of address. Contact your local Department of Elections office for more information about what documentation you can use to prove your identity and address.

 

By Mail

Note about the 2022 General Election: There is an ongoing legal challenge to Delaware’s new vote-by-mail law. The Department of Elections will not send mail ballots until the state supreme court issues its opinion in the case. In an abundance of caution, voters who do not qualify under the previous absentee rules should have a back-up plan to vote in person.

You can receive and return your ballot by mail in the 2022 General Election, regardless of the state supreme court’s decision, if you:

• Are in public service for the United States or State of      Delaware, or the spouse or dependent of such voter (applies to Uniformed Service members).

• Will be absent from the district while on vacation

• Will be unable to go to the polls on Election Day due to the tenets or teachings of your religion

• Unable to go the polls on Election Day due to sickness or temporary or permanent disability

• Cannot vote in person due to the nature of your business or occupation. This excuse includes:

     − Persons providing care to a parent, spouse, or child who is living at home and requires constant care

     − Students who cannot vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day

     − Incarcerated persons who are eligible to vote

Qualifying voters can request an absentee ballot online or using a downloadable form.

Applications can be returned by email, fax, or mail and must be received no later than 7 days before Election Day. Voters with disabilities or experiencing illness may request an electronic ballot.

You can track the status of your ballot at https://ivote.de.gov/VoterView.

Completed mail ballots must be received by your county Department of Elections by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Completed mail ballots can be returned by mail, in-person, or to a secure ballot box. More information about voting by mail and secure ballot box locations is available at:

https://elections.delaware.gov/services/voter/votebymail/index.shtml.

Early In Person

Early in person voting is available to all registered voters for at least 10 days before Election Day. Find an early voting location at: https://gis.elections.delaware.gov/apps/5bc1fa9352464944be601441655e36a0/explore.

Election Day

Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have a right to vote.

Registering to Vote Does Not Affect Your:

Federal Financial Aid

Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA

Status as a Dependent on Your Parents’ Taxes

Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes

Tuition Status

Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community

 

Will registering to vote in Delaware affect my driver’s license or car registration?

As a full-time student in Delaware, you may have to make these changes regardless of whether you vote in Delaware. For more information, you may wish to contact the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles.