Voting Access Scorecard - Delaware
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Delaware. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Delaware ranks 26. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 16 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Del. Code, tit. 15, § 2036: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c020/sc05/index.shtml | N |
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| State offers Election Day registration Del. Code, tit. 15, § 2036: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c020/sc05/index.shtml | N |
| State has automatic registration Delaware Election Commissioner: https://ivote.de.gov/ | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Delaware Department of Elections: http://elections.delaware.gov/voter/pdfs/OVR%20Training%20Agenda.pdf | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Del. Code tit. 15, § 2063(e): http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c020/sc08/index.shtml | N |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Delaware Department of Elections: http://elections.delaware.gov/voter/absenteeballot.shtml | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Hours vary by location, but still can only vote by absentee if have necessary excuse. Delaware Department of Elections: http://elections.delaware.gov/voter/absenteeballot.shtml | V |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Delaware Department of Elections: http://elections.delaware.gov/voter/absenteeballot.shtml | N |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Delaware Department of Elections: http://elections.delaware.gov/index.shtml | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Delaware Department of Elections: http://elections.delaware.gov/voter/absenteeballot.shtml | N |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Delaware Department of Elections: http://elections.delaware.gov/information/faq/absentee.shtml | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Only voters certain voters can sign up to vote by permanent absentee. Del. Code Ann. Tit. 15, §5503(k): http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c055/index.shtml | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Office of the State Election Commissioner: https://ivote.de.gov/voterlogin.aspx | Y |
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| State allows voters to register online Office of the State Election Commissioner: https://ivote.de.gov/voterlogin.aspx | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Office of the State Election Commissioner: https://ivote.de.gov/voterlogin.aspx | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Office of the State Election Commissioner: https://ivote.de.gov/voterlogin.aspx | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Office of the State Election Commissioner: http://elections.delaware.gov/information/faq/voting.shtml | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Office of the State Election Commissioner: http://elections.delaware.gov/information/faq/voting.shtml | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Office of the State Election Commissioner: http://elections.delaware.gov/information/faq/voting.shtml | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form Del. Code, tit. 15, § 1704: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c017/index.shtml | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Office of the State Election Commissioner: http://news.delaware.gov/2017/07/03/delaware-will-not-provide-voter-information-white-house-commission/ | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete The 2013 Hazel D. Plant Voter Restoration Act removed the five-year waiting period for some individuals with felony convictions. People convicted of a felony, with some exceptions, are now eligible to vote upon completion of sentence and supervision. People who are convicted of certain disqualifying felonies â including murder, bribery, and sexual offenses â are permanently disenfranchised. Del. Code, tit. 15, §§ 6102-6103: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c061/ | V |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Del. Code, tit. 15, §§ 6102-6103: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c061/ | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Del. Code, tit. 15, §§ 6102-6103: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c061/ | N |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail Delaware has not established a statutory requirement for permanent voter verifiable ballot or record. Office of the State Election Commissioner: http://elections.delaware.gov/information/faq/voting.shtml | N |
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| State requires poll worker training 15 Del. Code Ann. §4741: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c047/sc02/index.shtml | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification Del. Code, tit. 15, §§ 5001, 5000A: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title15/c050/index.shtml | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Delaware Office of the State Election Commissioner: https://ivote.de.gov/ | N |
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