IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR DELAWARE PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTERS
ACTION BY PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTERS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
Delaware's permanent absentee voters are strongly encouraged to take immediate action in order to ensure that they receive an absentee ballot for the 2026 General Election.
Vice Chancellor David ruled on September 4, 2026, in Chancery Court that Delaware's existing permanent absentee statute does not violate the state Constitution. However, the Plaintiffs in this case have appealed the ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court, and oral arguments in the case have been scheduled to be heard on September 16th in the Delaware Supreme Court.
In an abundance of caution, the Department of Elections is advising permanent absentee voters to submit a new absentee ballot application for the 2026 election cycle to ensure that regardless of the ultimate outcome of this litigation, the Department will be permitted to mail voters who are eligible to vote by absentee ballot their absentee ballots for the 2026 General Election.
Absentee voters who vote by absentee ballot under federal law (UOCAVA) and voters who submitted a new absentee application since the 2024 general election are guaranteed to be sent their absentee ballots for the 2026 General Election.
The options for submitting a new absentee ballot request are listed below:
- Complete and submit a new request for an absentee ballot on Delaware's voter portal, ivote.de.gov. Informational text in red font will tell you that you already have requested a ballot for the 2026 General Election. Please submit a NEW request anyway, completing each step of the process on ivote and submit the online form.
- Download and print a Request for an Absentee Ballot; or
- The Department is mailing a Notice to all registered permanent absentee voters informing them they must submit a new request for an absentee ballot. Permanent absentee voters may return the Request for an Absentee Ballot form included in the mailing.
- Fill out a Request for an Absentee Ballot form at your county DOE Office during business hours
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT TO THE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO MAIL AN ASENTEE BALLOT IS OCTOBER 30, 2026.
As additional information, Delaware offers two additional voting options for voters:
- In-Person Early Voting at an Early Voting Site for your county during the 10 day early voting period
- In-person Early Voting is available October 22nd through November 1st.
- Early Voting Sites and Schedule
- In-Person Voting at your assigned polling place on Election Day (November 3, 2026).
- Your polling place is printed on your polling place card.
- You can also find your polling place by visiting the Voter Portal or the Department's GIS Lookup Tool.
Department of Elections