How to Vote in Delaware's 2022 General Election: Updated Voter Guide Now Available!

In-person early voting in Delaware's General Election begins Friday, October 28, 2022.

As of January 1, 2022, registered voters are allowed to vote in-person during 10 days before any primary, general, or special election, up to and including the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the election.

For the 2022 General Election, early voting in Delaware will begin on Friday, October 28 and run until Sunday, November 6.

To find an early voting site near you, visit ivote.de.gov and enter your address in the polling location search.

You can only vote at an early voting location in your county of residence during the early voting timeframe.

Find early voting polling place hours: bit.ly/de-early-voting.

Voters must show one of the following forms of ID:

• State-issued photo ID
• Utility bill
• Paycheck
• Any government document with the voter’s name and address

In the event you do not have one of the above forms of ID, you can sign an affidavit of affirmation that you are the person listed on the election district record.

The General Election voter registration deadline in Delaware is Saturday, October 15, 2022.

To check or update your voter registration, or to register as a first-time Delaware voter, visit ivote.de.gov.

You may register to vote in Delaware if you:

• Are a citizen of the United States; AND
• Are a resident of Delaware (Delaware is your home); AND
• Will be 18 years old on or before the date of the next General Election.
• People with a previous conviction on their record who have served their time, including some people with felonies, are eligible to vote.

If you have moved or changed your name, you must update your voter registration by October 15, 2022. Occasionally, states and local election offices will purge their registration rosters of individuals that have moved or haven’t voted in a long time, and sometimes, an error may occur that removes an eligible voter. Be sure to visitivote.de.gov before October 15, 2022, to make sure that your voter registration status is updated and accurate.

Note: Certain disqualifying felonies may require a pardon to restore voting rights. Pretrial detention and misdemeanors do not restrict your voting rights.

For more information on voter registration, visit the Delaware Department of Elections website by going to bit.ly/DE-Voter-Registration.

Only voters who qualify under certain circumstances may vote absentee. To vote absentee, a person must be:

• In public service of the United States (U.S.) or the State of Delaware, or a citzen of the U.S. temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the U.S. and the District of Columbia, or such person’s spouse or dependent when residing with or accompanying such person, or absent from this State because of illness or injury while serving the armed forces of the U.S.
• In the armed forces of the U.S. or the merchant marine of the US., or attached to and serving with the armed forces of the U.S. in the American Red Cross or United Service Organizations.
• Unable to vote due to the nature of their business or occupation.  This reason includes:
  • The business or occupation of providing care to a parent, spouse, or child who is living at home and requires constant care due to illness, disability, or injury;
  • Students; and
  • Otherwise eligible persons who are incarcerated.
• Sick or physically disabled (temporarily or permanently).
• Absent from the district while on vacation.
• Unable to vote at a certain time or on a certain day due to the tenets or teachings of their religion.
• Otherwise authorized pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to vote by absentee ballot.
• Otherwise authorized by federal law to vote by absentee ballot.

If you plan to vote absentee, you must request your absentee ballot, with a valid excuse, as soon as possible. Request your absentee ballot online at ivote.de.gov.

The Elections office in your county must receive your absentee request form at least four days before the election. Completed absentee request forms can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the Elections office in your county. For more information on absentee voting, visit the Delaware Department of Elections website by going to bit.ly/DE-Absentee-Voting.

Note: 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.

You must return your absentee ballot to the Dept. of Elections office for your county by 8 PM on Election Day by:

• Placing the ballot in the U.S. Mail, or
• Dropping off the ballot at the Elections office in your county.

Those who are sick or temporarily or permanently physically disabled may receive and return their ballot securely via email.

VOTE BY MAIL IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR DELAWARE VOTERS IN THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION.

However, eligibile absentee voters can still request an absentee ballot.

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 an 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.

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.

The deadline to register to vote in the General Election is now Saturday, October 15, 2022. If you do not register to vote by that date, you may not be able to cast your ballot.

ACLU of Delaware's Voter Campaign Website
VoteDelaware.org

League of Women Voters Delaware Voter Information Website
Vote411.org/Delaware

Delaware Department of Elections Website
Elections.Delaware.gov

Personalized Registration, Ballot, & Polling Place Info
iVote.DE.gov

Delaware Department of Elections Voter FAQs