Voter Registration in Delaware

Attention:Information for voters and requirements for voting may change. Please check with the State Election Commissioner's Department of Elections website to get current information and any updated voter identification that may be required at your polling place.

When you register to vote in Delaware, you give yourself the power to choose the officials you want managing your local, state, and federal governments.

Voter Eligibility in Delaware

You can register to vote in Delaware if:

  • You're a U.S. citizen.
  • You're a Delaware citizen.
  • You're at least 18 years old.
  • You have not been deemed mentally incompetent.

Felons and Voting in Delaware

Felons CAN VOTE in Delaware IF:

  • You have not committed a disqualifying felony.
  • You are no longer incarcerated, on parole, or on probation.
Voting rights are restored at the completion of the full sentence.

Call (302) 739-4277 to make sure you're eligible to vote.

Register to Vote in Delaware

You can register to vote by mail, in person, and over the phone.

Delaware does not have a deadline to register to vote; eligible voters may register to vote before the election or at an Early Voting Site or at their Polling Place on Election Day.

By Mail

Delaware provides an online application system that allows you to complete a voter registration form online; however, you must print, sign, and mail the application to the address provided.

To register by mail:

  • You must provide your Delaware driver's license or ID number.
    • If you have neither, provide your Social Security number.
  • If you're registering by mail and have never registered before, you must provide copies of proof of photo identification OR proof of residency that shows your name and address with your application; otherwise, you must provide them the first time you vote in a Federal election.
    • Photo ID: Your valid Delaware driver's license or ID card.
    • Residency: Current utility bill, bank statement, or government paystub.

Once your application is approved, you should receive your polling place card by mail within 4 weeks; if you don't, contact your Department of Elections office.

You'll be notified by mail if your application is rejected.

Just Moved?

Find all the information you need to finish your moving requirements with the DMV.

In Person

You can register to vote in person at your local Department of Elections or any of the following locations:

  • Your local Delaware DMV office if you're applying, renewing, or updating your DE driver's license or state ID card.
  • Department of Health and Social Services.
  • Department of Labor.

Please bring proof of photo identification or residency, as outlined above in the “ By Mail" section above.

By Phone

You can request a voter registration application by phone by calling your local Department of Elections.

The Department will mail you an application. After you complete it, mail it—along with a copy of your photo identification or proof of residency—to the address provided.

Provisional Voting

If you've registered to vote but your name doesn't show up at the polls, you can opt for what Delaware calls “provisional voting."

This means you can still vote AS LONG AS:

  • It's a federal election.
  • You can show proof of identification such as a valid driver's license, current utility bill, or government pay stub.

You can check online to see the status of your provisional ballot.

DE Military & Overseas Voter Registration

Military members and their dependents, as well as DE residents currently overseas, can register to vote using the Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Federal Post Card Application, or FPCA (Form 76).

Mail the form to your local Department of Elections. The deadline to register is the 3rd Monday before Election Day.

Learn more about registering to vote and voting absentee at Delaware's Uniformed and Overseas Voters page. To check the status of your FPCA online.

Absentee Voting

As an out-of-state or otherwise “absent" resident, you can register to vote by the standard methods outlined above.

The state provides an “absentee voting" process for residents who can't make it to the polls on Election Day for a reason listed in the Delaware Code. For example, residents who are registered to vote and eligible to vote absentee include college students, residents who can't make it to the polls due to an illness or physical disability, and residents who are on vacation on Election Day.

For more information on whether you can vote absentee, requesting an absentee ballot, and meeting deadlines, refer to the state's section on absentee voting.

DE Voter Name or Address Change

You can use the same online registration form to update your name and/or address.

Simply sign in (you must enter personally identifying information about yourself) and choose the option for changing your name and/or address.

You'll then print, sign, and mail the application to the address provided.

Duplicate DE Voter Registration Cards

Contact your local Department of Elections for information on obtaining a duplicate voter registration card.

Forms

76
Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Federal Post Card Application
Register to vote AND/OR request an absentee voting ballot if you're an American citizen currently living outside the U.S.
DMV.ORG BBB Business Review