Absentee Voting

College Students

Delaware Citizens

The Absentee Voting process described on the Delaware Citizen page is the same process that college students who are Delaware Citizens should follow.

If you are registered to vote in Delaware and unable to vote at your Polling Place on Election Day, submit your Request for Absentee Ballot application as soon as you know your address for the Fall Semester in the year of a General Election.

Questions about eligibility and/or the Absentee Voting Process? Contact the Department of Elections office in the county in which you are registered to vote.

College students who are residents of other states

Visit our Absentee voting by College Students page for information about absentee voting in your state.

Hints about making the process work

IMPORTANT: Apply early, vote and return your Absentee Ballot as soon as possible before the election.

Things you can do to make sure that your Absentee Ballot is received on time and counted:

  • Visit or contact the Department of Elections office in the county in which you make your home while you are home during the summer to complete a Request for Absentee Ballot application , vote by Absentee Ballot for the State Primary Election, and/or to obtain information.
  • For the Primary and General Elections. Send a properly completed application so that it arrives at the Department of Elections office in your county before August 1 in the year of a General Election. This is not a deadline. Receipt by August 1 makes sure that your Absentee Ballots for the Primary and General Elections will be mailed on the earliest possible date.
  • For the Primary Election. Delaware is a CLOSED PRIMARY state. Only Democrats may vote in the Democratic Primary and only Republicans may vote in the Republican Primary. You will not receive an Absentee Ballot for the State Primary if you are registered other than as a Democrat or Republican, or if there is no primary election in which you are eligible to vote.
  • Provide a phone number and e-mail address at which you can be contacted on the application. Direct communication permits the department to quickly resolve problems with your application.
  • Contact the Department of Elections office in your county if you do not receive your Absentee Ballot within a reasonable time. Absentee Ballots for the Primary Election will be mailed starting the first Saturday after the first Friday in August; Absentee Ballots for the General Election will be mailed starting approximately 45 days before the General Election.
  • Follow the instructions on completing and mailing your Absentee Ballot. Make sure that you seal the VOUCHER ENVELOPE (the one that you date and sign).

Things the Departments of Elections do to make sure that your ballots are received on time and counted:

  • Mail Absentee Ballots to applicants as soon as they are available.
  • Mail Absentee Ballots the same day that a properly completed application is received once Absentee Ballots are available and if there is no problem with the application.
  • Attempt to contact applicants directly if there is a problem with their application.
  • Pick up Absentee Ballots at the Post Office the day before the election and on election day.
  • Maintain contact with the U.S. Postal Service to identify and resolve any problems.
  • Closely monitor the process.