Local elections occur throughout the year. To find local elections in your community, please review the Delaware Board of Elections Resource.
To request an absentee ballot, track your ballot, or learn more about the absentee process, please click here.
To vote absentee you must qualify for one of the reasons listed below:
If you choose options 1, 3 or 6 above, you have the ability to make yourself a permanent absentee voter by checking the box on the request form.
You can check the status of your affidavit and your ballot here. Absentee ballots for School Board Elections have a separate application process. You can start here.
How to Vote in Person if Vote-by-Mail Ballot was Requested:
Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person: When voters arrive at their polling place, an election officer (poll worker) will confirm via the pollbook that their VBM ballot has not been returned to the Department. The voter’s unreturned VBM ballot will be voided, and they will be allowed to vote in person at the polling place.
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Request your BallotDelaware does not have an absentee/mail ballot curing process. If you voted a provisional ballot, your county election officials will determine if you are an eligible voter for your ballot to be counted. Check the status of your absentee/mail ballot or provisional ballot using your state’s online tool.
For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.
For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.
Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.You may also check out your state's resources for more information on candidates.
After you vote your absentee ballot you may return it by:
Delaware will offer early voting at designated sites for 10 days before general, primary, and special elections. The final days of Early Voting are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday just before the election date. Early voting sites and dates are now available on the Department of Elections website.
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 the following:
Your next election date can be found here.
For more information, contact your county clerk.
To be eligible to vote you must be:
Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens:
In Delaware, individuals lose their voting rights upon conviction of a felony. However, once they complete their term of incarceration, probation, and/or parole, their voting rights are immediately restored, regardless of any outstanding fines, fees, costs, or restitution. It's important to note that individuals convicted of specific disqualifying felonies may need to obtain a pardon before being eligible to vote. Pretrial detention and misdemeanors do not have any impact on an individual's voting rights. For more information, visit your state’s resource page.
Voters without traditional residence:
Voters in Delaware lacking a fixed residence or who are unhoused and are otherwise qualified to vote in the state may register by completing the proper registration forms and providing two pieces of identification containing their name; one of the pieces must include the mailing address on the application, which may be a shelter or agency.
ID is not necessary to register to vote if you use the National Voter Registration Form. However, when registering with the Department of Elections or at an alternate approved location, current identification is required. The identification must include current and valid photo ID that shows full name and address.
Examples include:
You will be asked to show ID at the polls. However, you do not need to show ID in order to vote. If you do not show an ID you must fill out a form before you can vote, but you will still be allowed to cast your ballot.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline
Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.
Official election results will be uploaded on Delaware’s Department of Elections website as they become available.
Official Results
You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.
If you have questions about voting from overseas, you can use your state-specific elections official directory or visit Delaware's Absentee Voting FAQ for Uniformed and Overseas Voters resources page.
You can make sure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections for all. Become a poll worker today!
In order to be a poll worker in Delaware, you must:
To sign up, contact your local board of elections.
Polling place hours are 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.
For School Board elections, you can vote at any open polling place within the school district. Check your local school district website for a list of open polling locations.
The Department of Elections sends you a polling place card when you register; after a change in name, address, or party affiliation; or when your polling place is changed. If you need information regarding your election district and the place where you vote, visit https://ivote.de.gov/
If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.
Delaware is a “closed primary” state. In order to vote in the primary election, voters must be registered with a political party. Unaffiliated or independent voters are not able to participate in the primary.
If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.
If you are a registered voter in your election district but your name does not appear on the official poll list, you may be able to vote by updating the record or by provisional ballot.
Provisional ballots begin being counted the day following an election. You can check the status of your provisional ballot to determine if your vote was counted.
Provisional ballots cover only federal offices such as President, Vice President, US Senate and US Congress. To be permitted to vote on a provisional ballot, you will be asked to sign an affidavit that says you are a registered voter in that election district and that you are eligible to vote in that election. If a federal or state court order extends the time established for closing the polls, votes cast after the normal poll closing time will all be by provisional ballot.
Note: You must provide proof of identity and address to vote on a provisional ballot. Acceptable forms of identification are a current, valid photo ID, copy of current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address.
All people qualified to vote must be given the opportunity to do so. Therefore, there will be accessible polling places, accessible voting machines, the opportunity for voting by absentee ballot and assistance at any point as a means of accommodation.
If you need help at the polls, election officers are ready to assist. You may also bring someone with you to help in the voting process.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, all election materials, announcements and forms are available at your state's election website. You may also use the state's free TDD relay service to obtain election and voting information. Simply dial 711 and give the operator the toll free help line number for the county from which you are calling: New Castle County 800-577-000, Kent County 800-464-4357, Sussex County 800-464-4357, Outside Delaware 800-273-9500.
For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.
The registration deadline is 24 days before an election.
You can now register to vote online!
Not registered? Use our registration tool to fill out your application!
Time off to vote is subject to the employer, there is no requirement for employers to grant time off to vote for employees.
To verify your voter registration status
click here!The voting system used in Delaware is DRE.
Direct Recording Electronic (DRE): This is the newest kind of system in use in the U.S. All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen like a TV or computer screen.
There are many variations of DREs because lots of companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties and states are trying them out. Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card that you slide into a device to start your voting session.
Some of these devices will show all of the candidates and ballot choices on one big screen. Often, with these big screen devices you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure). On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. On each screen or page, there will probably be one thing to vote on. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for senator. Often these small-screen devices have a touch screen, where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for. Other devices have a key pad. Some have a keyboard, so you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for.
You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad.
You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC).
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