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All qualified voters must be given the opportunity to vote if they so desire. In order to vote in elections in the State of Delaware voters must meet the following requirements:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be a permanent resident of the State of Delaware
- Be at least 18 years of age on or before the next election
- Not be convicted of a felony*
- Not be declared unable to vote by a judge**
Please note: *After the passage of a bill in the 140th General Assembly, felons are now eligible to vote if the sentence and fines have been satisfied at least 5 years prior to the application date. To see if you are eligible please contact the State of Delaware at (302)739-4277.
**Unless an individual has been specifically declared mentally incompetent to vote by a judge, every person with disabilities has the right to vote in state and federal elections in the State of Delaware provided they are registered. This means that a person with disability's right to vote can only be taken away by a court order under extremly limited circumstances.
Voters are required to register 20 days prior to both the general and primary elections, and may do so by: - Requesting that the Department of Elections mail an application
- Applying online here or here. Both links will prompt those wishing to register for information and then allow them to print verification of the registration.
- Registering in person at the Division of Motor Vehicles, a State Service Center, the Department of Labor, or the Department of Elections for your County.
Should you require assistance on Election Day, the State of Delaware provides polling places and voting machines that are accessible to people with disabilities. You may inform the Election Officers at the poll site of your needs and they should assist you appropriately. If you are a voter who requires assistance casting your ballot, you may also bring someone with you to the polling place and even into the voting booth to aid you in your voting experience***. Please note: ***The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 generally requires polling places across the United States to be physically accessible to people with disabilities for federal elections. Where no accessible location is available to serve as a polling place, a political subdivision must provide an alternate means of casting a ballot on the day of the election. This law also requires states to make available registration and voting aids for disabled and elderly voters, including information by telecommunications devices for the deaf (TTDs) which are also known as teletypewriters (TTYs).
For voters who are deaf or hard of hearing, all election materials, announcements and forms are available at the State of Delaware Elections page. You may also use the State’s free TDD relay service to obtain election and voting information. Simply dial “711” and give the operator the toll free help line number for the County from which you are calling: - New Castle: (800) 292-7980
- Kent County: (800) 464-4357
- Sussex County: (800) 464-4357
- Outside Delaware: (800) 273-9500
If you are a Delaware resident and a person with disabilities who has experienced difficulty voting in Delaware in terms of accessing a polling place or attempting to vote, please contact the Disabilities Law Program in your county by email or phone: - New Castle:
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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(302) 575-0660 [ext. 243]
- Kent County:
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(302) 674-8500 [ext. 314]
- Sussex County:
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(302) 856-0038 [ext. 417]
For more information on your rights as a voter in the State of Delaware, please visit our Downloads page or feel free to download the following pamphlets: - Protecting Voting Rights
 - People With Disabilities In Delaware Have the Right to Vote
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