• Official Delaware Website
• Secretary of State Website
• Elections Website
  
• Absentee Voting Rules Webpage

Summary

To be eligible to vote in the State of Delaware, you must be:

• United States Citizen
• Resident of Delaware (proof required)
• 18 years of age
• Mentally competent

Due to the passage of a bill in the 140th General Assembly, felons are now eligible to vote if they meet certain requirements.

• The sentence and fines must be satisfied at least 5 years prior to the application date.
• A felony conviction of the following disqualifies one of the bill's requirements: murder, sexual crimes, or crimes against the public.

You can register to vote by applying with the Department of Elections. You can apply:

• By Mail: Call any election office to register to vote by mail: Elections
• By Phone: Click here to see a list of contact numbers for the Department of Elections.
• In Person: You can register at the Department of Elections office. Click here to view our locations. You may register at any of these agencies if you have other business to do there:
• Register to Vote Online.
• At a State office while accessing services:
  
  • Division of Motor Vehicles
  • Department of Health & Social Services
  • Department of Labor

If you are a registered voter and you are unable to go to your regular polling place on election day to cast your vote, you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Request an absentee ballot by completing an "Affidavit for Absentee Ballot. Affidavits are available below.

Do any of the following reasons apply to you?

• Work: The nature of your work prevents you from going to your polling place.
• Public Service: Your service to the United States or to the State of Delaware prevents you from going to your polling place. Spouses or dependents of the person in service also qualify. (Public service includes military, diplomatic, etc.)
• New: Affidavits from military personnel requesting absentee ballots do not require the signature of a Notary or Commissioned Officer.
• Religion: The tenets or teaching of your religion prevent you from going to your polling place.
• Vacation: You are on vacation on election day.
• Illness: I am sick.
• Disability: I am permanently or temporarily disabled.
• Incarcerated: I am incarcerated. (Not for a felony)
  
  
• Absentee Voting Brochure (pdf)

Deadlines

• Deadline to register to vote in November 2008 election: October 11, 2005 (Residents) October 20, 2008 (Military/Overseas Citizens)
  
• Deadline to register for absentee ballot in November 2008 election: October 30, 2008
  
• Detailed Calendar
  

Voting Equipment
Delaware was the first state to use Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines. Delaware uses the Danaher Controls ELECTronic 1242 Model 6T Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine, Model 6 T.

• The 1242 machines were first used in the 1996 State Primary Election and replaced Shoup lever machines that had been in use in Delaware since the mid-1950s.

Click on the links below to view some How-To Guides on Delaware's Electronic Voting Machines.

• How to use voting machine (pdf)
  
• Video of how to use the voting machine (wmv)