Presidential primary canceled in Delaware

An election bill canceling the upcoming presidential primary flew through the General Assembly and was signed into law by Gov. John Carney March 19.

Senate Bill 241 had been laid on the table in the Senate March 14, with an amendment added March 19 to extend the time frame in which a candidate may withdraw from the presidential primary election. The bill included the option of not holding an election in the event of only one remaining candidate. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dave Lawson, R-Marydel, estimated the presidential primary would cost the state $1.5 million. 

Both houses suspended rules to pass the bill, with voting at 19-1 with one absent in the Senate, and 37-2 with two absent in the House. 

Following the passage of the bill, the Delaware Department of Elections announced that the April 2 presidential primary election will not be held because neither Republican nor Democratic primaries are contested.

Former Republican Party presidential candidate Nikki R. Haley withdrew from the Republican presidential primary ballot, leaving Donald J. Trump as the sole, active, filed Republican Party presidential candidate, officials said.

On the Democrat side, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is the only candidate to have filed.

For more voting information, visit the DOE website at  elections.delaware.gov or call 1-302-739-4277.