Thousands of Delawareans hit polls on first day of early voting
More than 6,000 Delawareans had cast their votes in the first two hours of early voting.
Just when you thought you were out, a special election pulls you back in.
Residents living in the Milton and Lewes areas will have their pick between Democrat and community leader Alonna Berry and Republican and longtime educator Nikki Miller in the Aug. 5 special election to succeed former Rep. Stell Parker Selby in the Delaware House of Representatives.
Many of those same voters are still rebounding from last year’s election season, where the First State saw record-breaking numbers for early voting during the 2024 presidential election.
This isn’t even the first special election held this year. Two special elections were held earlier this year to help fill the state Senate district seats left vacant by now-U.S. Congresswoman Sarah McBride and now-Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay.
You must be a registered voter to participate in First State general, primary and special elections.
But how does one actually register to vote in Delaware?
Requirements to register to vote in Delaware
To register, you must be 18 years of age or older “on or before the date of the next General Election,” a U.S. citizen and a resident of Delaware, according to the state Department of Elections.
For a special election in particular, you must be 18 years of age or older on the day of or before the election, registered to vote at least 10 days before and must reside in the representative district in which the vacancy took place.
Where to register to vote in Delaware
Delawareans can register online via the state Voter Portal, in person at any Elections Department office in Delaware or at a voter registration event held by a state Organized Voter Registration Program group with trained registrars.
You can also contact the Elections Department and have them send an application directly to you to fill out and submit. Or, if you’re short on time, you can instead download, print, fill out and turn in an application back either via email, mail, fax or in person.
Aside from the Elections Department, you also have the option to register to vote or update your information at a wide range of state government or other state-based offices.
These include:
- The state Division of Motor Vehicles. You can do so when you are applying for, renewing or modifying your driver’s license or state ID.
- State Department of Health and Social Services service centers when applying for resources.
- Higher education institutions when registering for classes.
What documents do you need to register to vote in Delaware?
You have to present one of the following documents along with your completed application:
- Your state driver’s license or ID card.
- A copy of a government or related document that shows both your name and place of residence. This can include a recent bank statement, paycheck or utility bill.
What’s the latest you can register to vote in Delaware before an election?
It depends on the election.
For general and primary elections, you must be registered to vote by “the [fourth] Saturday” before the election takes place.
For the upcoming special election, residents must be registered by Saturday, July 26 at 11:59 p.m. to be eligible.
Can I update my voter registration?
Yes, you can update your voter record any time before an election or at your designated polling location on Election Day.
How to change your political affiliation in Delaware?
You can pick a political party affiliation when you register to vote. If you do not choose one, you will be registered as “no party.” (For primary elections, you must be registered as a Democrat or a Republican.)
You can change your affiliation online or complete and submit a form in person or download, fill out and submit a registration form to the Department with your new affiliation listed.
You can also call your county Department office and have an application mailed to you to fill out and present with your new affiliation, or you can do so in person at a department office.
Voters can also update their information in the event of a name change or a new place of residency.
What else do I need to do?
Once you’ve registered, you are responsible for keeping your voter information up to date.
To cancel your voter registration, you can fill out a request online or print and send the form back to the department office for your county.
For more information on registration and updates, please visit the Elections Department website.
When is the special election?
The special election to fill Parker-Selby’s seat will take place on Aug. 5.
Early voting will take place on the following dates:
- July 24-26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- July 28-29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- July 30 to Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
No early voting will take place on July 27.
Early voters can cast their ballots at Mariner Middle School in Milton.
Like in a general election, registered voters in Representative District 20 can vote via absentee ballot or in person, either at an early polling site or on the day of the election.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.
