Delaware News


Voting Alert: Automatically Registered Voters May Declare Their Political Party Affiliation at the Primary Election

Department of Elections | Department of Elections - Kent County Office | Department of Elections - New Castle County Office | Department of Elections - State Election Commissioner | Department of Elections - Sussex County Office | Date Posted: Monday, September 9, 2024


Candidates listed on voting machine.

DOVER, DE – The Delaware Department of Elections is informing voters that automatically registered voters may declare their party at the State Primary Election, September 10, 2024. Delaware is a Closed Primary State, meaning that only voters affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties may vote in their party’s Primary Election. Eligible Voters must vote at their assigned Polling Place, and Polling Places are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day.

The Automatic Voter Registration System (AVR) is a process outlined in Delaware law (15 Del. C. § 2050A) and implemented in late June 2023, through which eligible Delaware residents are automatically registered to vote while getting a license or ID at Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and their voter registration records are automatically submitted to the Department of Elections. This system is working as envisioned, and the Department has processed automatic voter registration records quickly and efficiently. Voters who are automatically registered at DMV (AVR Voters) may choose a political party through the day of the FIRST Primary Election following their automatic voter registration at DMV in order to vote in that Primary Election. Only voters registered as “No Party – AVR” may change their party on Primary Election Day in order to vote in the State Primary Election. For information on the automatic voter registration process, please visit elections.delaware.gov.

Last week, the Department identified a clerical (i.e., human) error in the processing of a total of 764 voter records statewide. 328 of the 764 affected voters are registered in New Castle County, with 87 affected voters registered in the City of Wilmington. The Department immediately resolved the issue by updating the pollbooks at every early voting site and polling place Statewide to show that all of these voters are eligible to vote in the State Primary Election. Additionally, immediately after the issue was identified, all early voting locations statewide also were provided lists of the impacted voters. Both of these steps have been taken to ensure that these voters will be processed just like any other eligible voter without any further necessary research or eligibility verification due to party affiliation.No voter has been turned away due to this issue, and any voter impacted has been provided the opportunity to vote.

Voters are encouraged to refer to the voter information postcard sent by the Department to every registered voter at the beginning of August, which shows their political party affiliation. Voters registered via AVR are encouraged to check the AVR mailer they received shortly after their registration.

Voters may check their own voter registration and voting record on the State’s online portal, https://ivote.de.gov. Voters with questions about their eligibility to vote in the 2024 State Primary Election may call or email their county elections office for more information:

  • New Castle County Office: 302-577-3464; votencc@delaware.gov
  • Kent County Office: 302-739-4498; votekc@delaware.gov
  • Sussex County Office: 302-856-5367; votesc@delaware.gov 

Department of Elections Information:

For more information, visit the Department of Elections website at elections.delaware.gov and connect with the Department on Facebook, facebook.com/DoE.Delaware, X (Twitter), twitter.com/DE_Elections, Instagram instagram.com/doe.delaware/, and YouTube youtube.com/channel/UCYITHvWQRkGXNIZ3ctvH7VQ.

Automatic Voter Registration Notice for the September 2024 State Primary

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.

Voting Alert: Automatically Registered Voters May Declare Their Political Party Affiliation at the Primary Election

Department of Elections | Department of Elections - Kent County Office | Department of Elections - New Castle County Office | Department of Elections - State Election Commissioner | Department of Elections - Sussex County Office | Date Posted: Monday, September 9, 2024


Candidates listed on voting machine.

DOVER, DE – The Delaware Department of Elections is informing voters that automatically registered voters may declare their party at the State Primary Election, September 10, 2024. Delaware is a Closed Primary State, meaning that only voters affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties may vote in their party’s Primary Election. Eligible Voters must vote at their assigned Polling Place, and Polling Places are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day.

The Automatic Voter Registration System (AVR) is a process outlined in Delaware law (15 Del. C. § 2050A) and implemented in late June 2023, through which eligible Delaware residents are automatically registered to vote while getting a license or ID at Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and their voter registration records are automatically submitted to the Department of Elections. This system is working as envisioned, and the Department has processed automatic voter registration records quickly and efficiently. Voters who are automatically registered at DMV (AVR Voters) may choose a political party through the day of the FIRST Primary Election following their automatic voter registration at DMV in order to vote in that Primary Election. Only voters registered as “No Party – AVR” may change their party on Primary Election Day in order to vote in the State Primary Election. For information on the automatic voter registration process, please visit elections.delaware.gov.

Last week, the Department identified a clerical (i.e., human) error in the processing of a total of 764 voter records statewide. 328 of the 764 affected voters are registered in New Castle County, with 87 affected voters registered in the City of Wilmington. The Department immediately resolved the issue by updating the pollbooks at every early voting site and polling place Statewide to show that all of these voters are eligible to vote in the State Primary Election. Additionally, immediately after the issue was identified, all early voting locations statewide also were provided lists of the impacted voters. Both of these steps have been taken to ensure that these voters will be processed just like any other eligible voter without any further necessary research or eligibility verification due to party affiliation.No voter has been turned away due to this issue, and any voter impacted has been provided the opportunity to vote.

Voters are encouraged to refer to the voter information postcard sent by the Department to every registered voter at the beginning of August, which shows their political party affiliation. Voters registered via AVR are encouraged to check the AVR mailer they received shortly after their registration.

Voters may check their own voter registration and voting record on the State’s online portal, https://ivote.de.gov. Voters with questions about their eligibility to vote in the 2024 State Primary Election may call or email their county elections office for more information:

  • New Castle County Office: 302-577-3464; votencc@delaware.gov
  • Kent County Office: 302-739-4498; votekc@delaware.gov
  • Sussex County Office: 302-856-5367; votesc@delaware.gov 

Department of Elections Information:

For more information, visit the Department of Elections website at elections.delaware.gov and connect with the Department on Facebook, facebook.com/DoE.Delaware, X (Twitter), twitter.com/DE_Elections, Instagram instagram.com/doe.delaware/, and YouTube youtube.com/channel/UCYITHvWQRkGXNIZ3ctvH7VQ.

Automatic Voter Registration Notice for the September 2024 State Primary

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.