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Can I vote by mail in Delaware?
Only with a qualifying reason.
You need an approved reason, such as travel, illness or disability, age, or work. Check your state's list. If you don't qualify, early in-person voting is usually an option.
On the permanent absentee list? The Delaware Supreme Court upheld it on Sept. 21, 2026, and the Department of Elections is mailing permanent absentee voters their 2026 ballots. Everyone else: request by Oct. 30.
- Voter registrationSat, Oct 10Passed
- NextFill it in, sign the envelope, and get it in the mail byTue, Oct 272 days
USPS says allow 7 days. Your ballot must be received by Tue, Nov 3. After this date, use a drop box or return it in person.
- Returning it:
Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Dropping it off? Drop-off is run by your county or town rather than the state, so locations vary. county election offices.
Who can return it for you: Anyone you choose may return it. You mail the sealed envelope or deliver it, or have it delivered, to your county Department of Elections before polls close at 8 p.m. Election Day. No restriction on who delivers and no limit stated. Drop boxes aren't mentioned. source
- Mail request must be receivedFri, Oct 305 days
Ask now: a request on the last day leaves no time to mail the ballot back.
Missed the request deadline?
- Any absentee voter, by a written or electronic statement to the county Department of Elections (state law; the Department's own page publishes Oct. 30, so call first). Deadline: Mon, Nov 2, noon. File a handwritten or electronically prepared statement with the Department requesting an absentee ballot (15 Del. C. 5503(a)). source
- Election DayTue, Nov 39 days
If your ballot gets flaggedDeadline: Tue, Nov 3 · 9 days
If your ballot was flagged
- Read the letter, email or text from your county. It says what's wrong.
- A missing signature or an unsealed envelope can be fixed at your county Department of Elections before polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. They'll try to call or email you. Deadline: Tue, Nov 3 · 9 days
- Call your county election office. You can say:
Hi, I voted by mail and my ballot was flagged. What do I need to do to fix it, and by when? Can I do it today?
Trouble voting? Free, nonpartisan hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE · 888-VE-Y-VOTA · 888-API-VOTE · 844-YALLA-US
Where are you with your ballot?
Where are you with your ballot?
Will your ballot count in Delaware?
Will your ballot count in Delaware?
- Is this your first time voting by mail?
- Have you moved since you last voted?
- Has your signature changed much since you registered?
Why ballots get rejected in Delaware, and how to avoid it
- Sign the envelope. An unsigned envelope is the most common fixable mistake.
- Use the secrecy sleeve if one is included, then the return envelope. Don't tape anything.
- Keep the phone and email on your registration current. If there's a problem, that's how they reach you to fix it.
Voting in person insteadpolling place, early voting, ID
Polling place and sample ballot: Your state's voter portal shows where you vote in person, what's on your ballot, and your registration status, all from your address. Open the voter portal
Open now through Sun, Nov 1. Locations and hours
Bring some ID. A utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck with your name and address usually works, and there's a fallback if you have none.
Accepted: Any proof of identity (no defined list; e.g. driver's license, passport, signed polling place card); photo not required Without one: Sign an 'Affirmation of Voter Identity' form and vote a regular ballot (15 Del. C. § 4937)
More about your statepermanent list, counting, alerts
Delaware has a permanent absentee status for voters who are sick or disabled, military and their families, citizens abroad, and caregivers. Sign up once and you won't have to request again. Request it on the absentee ballot application (iVote shows it as 'Indefinite'). Cancelled if mail comes back undeliverable or your reason no longer applies. The Delaware Supreme Court upheld the statute on Sept. 21, 2026.
Delaware cannot start counting mail ballots until Election Day itself, so results take longer than you might expect. Results are certified Thu, Nov 19.
- Military or overseas. You're covered by federal law (UOCAVA), which usually gives you longer deadlines and electronic delivery. Use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request a ballot in one step. If your ballot doesn't arrive, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is your backup. FVAP.gov
- College student. You can register at your school address or your family's, not both. If you're registered back home and away at school, request a mail ballot from home early; campus mail is slow. Some states require a specific reason for students to vote absentee, so check your state's rule above. Student voter guide
- Disability or need help marking a ballot. Every state must offer an accessible way to vote. Most have an accessible mail-ballot option you can mark on a screen reader or your own device, and all allow a person of your choice (not your employer or union rep) to assist. Ask your county election office for the accessible absentee ballot. If illness, a hospital stay or a disability keeps you from the polls AFTER the request deadline, most states still have a way to get you a ballot: see "Missed the request deadline?" under your state's dates, and "Who can return it for you" for whether a family member or helper may carry it back. EAC: voters with disabilities
- Moved recently. Your registration is tied to your address. If you moved within your state, update it before the registration deadline; if you've moved across state lines, register in the new state. Moved after the deadline? Many states let you vote at your old precinct one last time or update in person; call your county. vote.gov
- Past felony conviction. Rules vary widely: some states restore rights automatically on release, others after probation or parole, a few require a separate process. Don't assume you can't vote. Check your state before the registration deadline. NCSL: restoration of voting rights
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Verified against the official page 2026-09-11. Rule checked 2026-09-09. Deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Request deadlines are "received by," not postmarked. The official site wins if anything differs. Spot something wrong? We check every report against the state's own page and fix errors as soon as they're reported. Email fix@ballotbymail.org or use the report form.