Primary and school board elections information updated

The League of Women Voters of Delaware has released key information for voters in upcoming primary and school elections. 

Concerns about the safety of in-person voting in the face of the coronavirus pandemic have prompted Gov. John Carney and the state Department of Elections to delay the primary and school election dates, and to make absentee ballots available to all eligible Delaware voters. 

The Delaware presidential primary election is delayed until Tuesday, July 7. The state primary elections will be Tuesday, Sept. 15.

School board elections are delayed until Tuesday, July 21. The Christina School District referendum will proceed as planned Tuesday, June 9.

Voting options include absentee ballots and in-person voting. 

Delaware voters can vote by absentee ballot in the July elections. Voters should select the “sick” or “physically disabled” reason codes when requesting absentee ballots for quarantine or social distancing reasons. Absentee ballot request forms were mailed during the week of May 18 to all Delaware voters who are eligible to vote in the July 7 presidential primary election. 

To request absentee ballots online, voters can go to www.ivote.de.gov. To fill out forms online, voters can go to www.elections.delaware.gov. 

Ballots for the presidential primary can be delivered by postal mail or email and can be voted electronically if desired.

School election absentee ballot request forms will not be mailed. Voters should request those online. Paper ballots will be sent by postal mail and must be returned in physical form.

Polling places for in-person voting will be open, but there may be fewer of them due to expanded absentee voting. Voters can find a list of open polling places in the absentee request mailing from the Department of Elections. 

For the July 7 presidential primary, in-person voters can use any open polling place in the county where they reside. For the July 21 school board elections, in-person voters can use any open polling place within their school district. 

If an absentee ballot was requested but not cast, in-person voting is permitted.

When using Delaware’s new voting machines, individual voters should always verify that the printed ballot reflects their intended choice(s) before finalizing their votes. This is an important security measure when any automated ballot-marking device is used. Poll workers will be available to answer any questions regarding this procedure.

For candidate profiles and the latest election information, go to www.vote411.org.