Am I Ready To Vote?
Voting is fundamental to our democracy. By casting our ballot, we are not just representing our ideals, but speaking for the millions of Latinx people in the United States who are unable to vote. Below is an easy step by step process on how to make sure you are ready to vote in Delaware.
Click through the buttons below to learn more:
For Delaware's 2022 General Election, there have been significant last-minute changes that voters need to be aware of. Vote-by-mail is no longer and option for all Delaware voters, and same day registration has been overturned as well. Learn more about these new recent changes to voting laws in the drop-down boxes below.
Who is eligible to vote? Generally, we are eligible to vote if we are:
- A citizen of the United States;
- A resident of Delaware;
- Will be 18 years old by the date of the General Election.
There are some exceptions for people convicted of certain crimes or declared incompetent by a court. Read the Department of Elections website for more information.
Voters can register in Delaware online , by mail , or at certain governmental offices .
Checking your registration status is vital to a successful voting day plan. Occasionally, states and local election offices will purge their registration rosters of individuals who have moved, haven't voted in a long time and sometimes an error may have occurred that removes an eligible voter. Checking in on your registration status prior to the election ensures that we're counted and eligible to vote in the upcoming election.
Additionally, some of us may want to change our party affiliation prior to an election or primary. Checking registration ensures that we're registered for our preferred party.
Check your registration online at ivote.de.us .
August 20, 2022: Deadline for voters to register before September 13, 2022 primary election
October 15, 2022: Deadline for voters to register before November 8, 2022 general election
Additional calendars: https://elections.delaware.gov/calendars.shtml
Now that we have registered to vote, we can plan how you will cast our ballot. Below are the options Delaware voters have.
In-Person on Election Day
Delaware voters can cast their ballot in person on Election Day. Polls are open from 7 am- 8 pm
To find our polling place, use the Delaware Department of Elections website . When we register to vote, we should also receive a postcard in the mail with our polling place.
We must bring one of the following forms of ID:
- State-issued photo ID
- utility bill
- pay check
- Any government document with voter's name and address
In the event we do not have one of the above forms of ID, we can sign an affidavit of affirmation that we are the person listed on the election district record.
Other helpful tips:
- If the polls close while we're still in line, stay in line – we have the right to vote.
- If we make a mistake on our ballot, ask for a new one.
- If the machines are down at our polling place, ask for a paper ballot.
In-Person Early
Beginning January 1, 2022, registered voters will now be allowed to vote in-person during the 10 days before an election, up to and including the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the election. There will be at least one early voting location per county with an additional location in the City of Wilmington.
Absentee Ballot
If we are a registered voter and we are unable to vote in person on Election Day, we may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. To vote absentee we must qualify for one of the reasons listed on the Absentee Ballot Request form .
At this time, Delaware does not have permanent mail-in voting or no-excuse absentee voting.
Watch the DE Dept. of Elections video walkthrough of how to request an absentee ballot. Forms may be submitted online or emailed, faxed or mailed to your county board of elections.
If your absentee status in iVote is listed as "Indefinite", this means that you have requested to be a permanent absentee voter. You will automatically receive an absentee ballot for all elections for which you are eligible to vote.
More information about absentee voting is available in the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition's voter guide.
Absentee ballot process
Ballots mailed out 35 days before a primary and 45 days before a general election. When returning the absentee ballot remember to read all the instructions and to sign and date the voucher and envelope. We may mail back your ballot or drop your ballot off at your county election office. Secure ballot drop boxes are available in each county office, as well as in the lobby of the Carvel State Office Building. All absentee ballots must be received by 8pm on Election Day in order to be counted. We can check the status of our affidavit and our ballot here.
More information about absentee voting is available in the Delaware Voting Rights Coalition's voter guide.
Same-Day Registration Process
SAME DAY REGISTRATION IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR VOTERS IN THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION.
On Friday, October 7, 2022, the Delaware Supreme Court issued a ruling that overturned the same-day registration laws that were passed earlier this year.
Vote by Mail Process
VOTE BY MAIL IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR DELAWARE VOTERS IN THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION.
However, eligible absentee votes can still request an absentee ballot. See information on absentee voting above.
On Friday, October 7, 2022, the Delaware Supreme Court issued a ruling that overturned the vote-by-mail laws that were passed earlier this year.
Vote-by-mail is no longer and option for the General Election. This means that you will not receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the 2022 General Election if you had already requested one.
The only way that a person can cast their ballot by mail in this year's General Election is through absentee voting, which requires an excuse.
Language Accessibility
Under federal law, voters who have difficulty reading or writing English may receive in-person assistance at the polls from the person of their choice. This person cannot be the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an agent or officer of the voter's union.
If you have trouble voting due to lack of English fluency, call one of these hotlines:
- Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
- Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
- Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese: 1-888-API-VOTE / 1-888-274-8683
Disability Accessibility
Federal law requires elections to be accessible to all eligible voters, including those with disabilities.
In federal elections, every polling place must have at least one voting system that allows voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently.
Voters with disabilities have the right to receive in-person help at the polls from the person of their choice. This helper cannot be the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an agent or officer of the voter's union and must respect the voter's privacy, not looking at the voter's ballot unless the voter asks them to do so.
Election officials (including poll workers) must make reasonable accommodations as needed to help us vote and provide us with help if it's possible for them to do so.
REMEDIES IF WE ARE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON A FEDERAL ELECTION:
Anyone denied the right to vote may still cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are mandated by section 15482 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).
To use a provisional ballot, each voter whose eligibility to vote is uncertain must provide a written affirmation, signed in front of an official election at the polling place, stating that he or she is a registered voter and is eligible to vote in the election.
Election officials must provide information to the voter on how the process works and how to find out if his or her ballot was cast—and if not, why not.
Make sure to ask for a provisional ballot if this happens. If we have any questions regarding our right to vote, please call 1-866-OUR-VOTE regarding Election Day assistance problems.
The Delaware Voting Rights Coalition (DVRC) has launched an organized public education campaign to inform Delaware voters about how, where, and when they can vote int the 2022 General Election. The campaign centers around a comprehensive voter guide, "How to Vote in Delaware's general Election: Important Updates," and features information on the recent changes, what options are available for voters, as well as links to all the resources any voter will need for more info.
Our guide is available in both English and Spanish. You can check out the guide, download copies, and download social media graphics to help spread the information below.
Download the Spanish guide by clicking this link.
Download the Spanish social media graphics by clicking this link.