Wilmington. Governor Carney changed the Presidential Primary to June 2, 2020 in his 6th update to the State of Emergency.  The change caused changes in two deadlines.

1. The  deadline to change party affiliation changed April 3, 2020.
2. The  deadline to register to vote changed to May 8, 2020.

The Governor also ordered that citizens who want to vote by absentee ballot due to COVID-19 can use the “sick or or temporarily or permanently physically disabled” reason when requesting a ballot.

Persons can request an absentee ballot online at https://ivote.de.gov. They can also download the Absentee Form, complete it and return it by email, FAX or mail to the Department of Elections Office for their County.

Wilmington DE – The deadline to change your political party affiliation before the Presidential Primary is Friday, February 28, 2020.

You must be registered as a Democrat or a Republican in your party’s Presidential Primary. The deadline to change political party affiliation before the 2020 Presidential Primary is Friday, February 28, 2020.

Registered voters can change their party affiliation online via Delaware’s voter portal, at any Department of Elections office, or by completing an application and returning it to the elections office in their county by mail.

Eligible citizens not-registered to vote in Delaware who want to vote in Delaware’s Presidential Primary have until April 4th to register.

For more information contact any of the following:

• Office of the State Election Commissioner: 302.739.4277, or by email
• Kent County Office: 302.739.4498, or by email
• New Castle County Office: 302.577.3464, or by email
• Sussex County Office: 302.856.5367, or by email

Wilmington – Delaware DOES NOT have a General Election on Nov 5, 2019.  Delaware only has Primary and General Elections in even numbered years.

The fact that Delaware does not have elections in odd numbered years often confuses citizens and the media. The Department receives numerous inquiries for citizens looking for their ballets, wondering where they vote, etc. Please DO NOT report that polls are open in Delaware.  Please call (302) 577-3464 if you have any questions regarding this.

Nomination must be approved by the Delaware Senate

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced his intention to nominate Anthony Albence as Delaware’s next Election Commissioner.

The position, which oversees Delaware’s elections operations, carries a four-year term. The Delaware Senate is expected to consider the Governor’s nomination this month. Albence would replace Elaine Manlove, who has served in the position since 2007.

“For more than a decade, Anthony has directed our elections operations in New Castle County, and I’m confident that he has the skills and experience necessary to serve as Delaware’s next Election Commissioner,” said Governor Carney. “This is an important position that helps safeguard our elections, and make sure that all Delawareans have access to the voting booth. I want to thank Elaine Manlove for her service to our state, and I look forward to the Senate considering this nomination.”

Since 2007, Albence has served as County Director at the Delaware Department of Elections, overseeing staff and operations in New Castle County. In that position, he coordinated with the Election Commissioner on policy initiatives, and led community outreach programs for the department. Previously, Albence served as Director of Public Allies Delaware, and as a training specialist at Catholic Youth Ministry in Wilmington.

As Election Commissioner, Albence would direct the operations of the Department of Elections, investigate potential violations of campaign finance laws, and collect and report on election results.

Albence graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, and earned his master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.

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Dover, DE – Election Day is still a few days away, but Delaware students tallied their votes for statewide offices today in Dover at the 2018 Student Mock Election Convention. In what’s become a bellwether for elections in Delaware, students picked incumbents Sen. Tom Carper and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester to continue representing the First State in Washington.

With nearly 30,000 votes cast by students across 142 Delaware schools, delegates convened in Legislative Hall to announce their winners. Down ballot, victories went to Colleen Davis for state treasurer, Kathleen McGuiness for auditor of accounts and Kathleen Jennings for attorney general. (Full Student Mock Election Results here.)

Since 2010, the Student Mock Election has correctly predicted the results of 18 out of 21 statewide races in Delaware, an 86-percent accuracy rate.

“There’s no more fundamental duty in our democracy than the casting of your vote, and I’m proud to know that thousands of Delaware students are learning from an early age just how important that responsibility is,” said Gov. John Carney. “I want to thank the teachers who make this program a success, and all the students who made their voices heard this week.”

Each election year, the Student Mock Election is conducted by teachers statewide in partnership with the Office of the State Elections Commissioner, the Delaware Department of State, the University of Delaware Democracy Project and the League of Women Voters. Coupled with lesson plans and classroom discussion about elections and the democratic process, fourth through 12th grade students have access to a special online voting portal in their schools administered by state elections officials and the Department of Technology and Information.

“Being informed about the candidates and the issues at stake is just as important as casting that ballot on Election Day, and every election year I’m impressed by the level of engagement our students bring to this program,” said Elections Commissioner Elaine Manlove. “These students are thoughtful, educated, respectful and opinionated – just what Delaware should want in its future generations of voters.”

“The Student Mock Election is one of my favorite events of the election season, since the results historically have been a pretty good predictor of the real outcomes on Election Day,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “To all the students who participated, hold on to that enthusiasm after you turn 18 and don’t let an election go by without fulfilling your civic duty.”

Friday’s convention also featured awards for the schools with the highest rates of voter participation: Newark Charter School, Charter School of Wilmington, and Wilmington Christian School; and the most spirited student delegation: Odyssey Charter School.