Deadline to change political party affiliation before the Presidential Primary is February 26, 2016

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

Only voters registered as Democrats and Republicans can vote in their respective Party’s Presidential Primary. The deadline for registered voters to change political party affiliations before the 2016 Presidential Primary Election is Friday, February 26, 2016.  People who are not-registered to vote in Delaware who want to vote in Delaware’s Presidential Primary have until April 2nd to register.

The Department’s iVote System is designed as a full-service voter information portal, which permits Delaware residents to access a full range of voter registration services, and to obtain any information needed to participate in the elections process. Citizens can use IVote to change their political party affiliation, change their name, change their address and register to vote.

“We have worked very hard to make iVote a ‘one stop shop’ for Delaware’s voters,” said Elaine Manlove, State Election Commissioner.  “We are proud to offer a wide range of services and information to voters, which they can access whenever convenient for them,” added Manlove.

People may also change their political party affiliation at any the Department’s offices. For more information contact:

• 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

 


Campaign Finance Welcome Packet

The Department of Elections now offers a Welcome Packet for candidates and treasurers of committees, which are covered by Delaware’s comprehensive campaign finance reporting laws.  These laws are designed to maximize transparency and to enhance public access to this information.  The resource is designed to answer common questions on the topic, as well as to assist committee treasurers and candidates with ensuring that they are in compliance with Delaware Code.

The Department has invested significant resources in creating a Campaign Finance Reporting System (CFRS) that is entirely web-based, permitting candidates, political committees, Political Action Committees (PACs), and Third Party Advertisers to file reports easily and efficiently.  Additionally, the system permits public access to records at any time.  It is designed to allow the public to search the site intuitively in order to find the information they are seeking as quickly as possible.

“The Welcome Packet will serve a convenient reference tool for all candidates, and they will receive it at the time they file for office,” said Elaine Manlove, State Election Commissioner. “This is a logical next step, after the rollout to the enhanced CFRS website.  In addition, the Department has dedicated experts in this field who are always more than happy to work with a candidate or committee to ensure compliance with the law, and that information is properly documented in the CFRS system to permit the public to access it.” added Manlove.

The Welcome Packet includes all necessary information to assist committee treasurers and candidates with complying with the reporting requirements and details the penalties for untimely reporting.  It also provides contact information, as well as avenues for assistance.

Access the Campaign Finance portal at: cfrs.elections.delaware.gov.

More info on the Department of Elections, including the Campaign Finance portal, is available at: elections.delaware.gov.


Delaware does not have a General Election on November 3, 2015

stateseal

Wilmington DE – Delaware does not hold Primary and General Elections in odd numbered years. Thus, Delaware does not have a General Election on November 3, 2015.

Delaware will hold a Presidential Primary on April 26, 2016, a Primary Election on September 13, 2016 and a General Election on November 8, 2016.

Visit the Department of Elections web site for information about elections and voting, and the iVote portal to register to vote, update your registration and other services.


National Voter Registration Day 2015

The Department of Elections is proud to support National Voter Registration Day, a nationwide event designed to raise awareness of voting and civic engagement, and to register eligible but unregistered citizens to vote for upcoming elections.

Delaware is a national leader in making voter registration easy, convenient, and accessible to eligible Delawareans.  “Our partnership with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in which voter registration is fully integrated into DMV transactions–known as eSignature or ‘eSig’–is a model for the nation,” said Elaine Manlove, State Election Commissioner. “In addition we now offer online voter registration, and a full-service voter information portal, iVote.de.gov.  Voters can register to vote, update their voter registration, and much more, all at their convenience,” added Manlove.

In addition to these services, the Department is a founding member of the ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center), a multi-state consortium founded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.  ERIC provides tools for Delaware’s Department of Elections to more easily communicate with election offices in other states to ensure voter registration records are more accurate, and to reach Delawareans who are eligible to vote but not registered.  More info on ERIC is available at: http://www.ericstates.org.

More info on National Voter Registration Day 2015 is available: http://nationalvoterregistrationday.org.   The site includes a search by ZIP code of local events being offered.

More info on the Department of Election, including the iVote portal, is available at: http://elections.delaware.gov.


Governor Statement on Campaign Finance Decision Affirming Constitutionality of Election Disclosure Law

Wilmington, DE – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit today issued an opinion affirming the constitutionality of the Delaware Elections Disclosure Act, which was proposed and signed by Governor Markell in 2012. In response to the Court’s decision, Governor Markell issued the following statement:

“Today’s decision is an important victory for transparency in Delaware elections,” said Governor Markell. “The Delaware Elections Disclosure Act closed a major loophole in Delaware’s campaign finance laws and provides better and timelier information to voters. In an era of increasing spending by outside interest groups who too often have been allowed to hide the sources of their revenues, laws like DEDA are more important than ever. Delaware voters deserve to know who is responsible for advertisements and other materials asking for them to support or oppose candidates, and the court has made a strong statement upholding the state’s right to ensure transparency for our citizens.”

###