Can I vote [in U.S. elections]? – make video
Yes as long you meet the requirements below.
Where to register to vote? – make video
Two options
-
- DMV (good for state/federal elections only)
- go to https://ivote.de.gov/VoterView and click ‘Not yet registered?’ (BEST!)
Be aware of scams, misleading or fake election information. – make video
Sometimes it is best to ignore social media posts that do not include facts/proof and just stick with official websites for information (i.e. candidates or state election websites). All states will list your candidate choices and should list their websites as well.
Sometimes those misleading posts/news are illegal. Your right to vote may be voided – meaning you can not vote again ever. For example, voting more than 1 time in the same election event/cycle is illegal – for example, voting in 2 places in the same week is not allowed. Pretending to be someone else is illegal. If you went to prison, usually you cannot vote again unless a judge (court) tells you otherwise – see Clean Slate DE below.
What are the voting requirements [in the United States]?
Please note that requirements can change sometimes.
Generally they are…
a. Must be 18 years old or older before General (big) Election (show picture ID like drivers license that show your birth date)
b. Live in the state (show phone, water, trash bill, tax return or similar with your name on it)
c. U.S. Citizen (show birth certificate or U.S. passport – social security card (SSN) may be accepted)
d. Have no felony charges against you (i.e. murder, sex offense, bribery) – more on this at www.cleanslatede.org as they can help clear other criminal charges if needed
e. No court said you are not allowed to vote – no one can take away your right to vote but courts (judges)
See Delaware requirements at https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/eligibility.shtml.
Political Party Registration (part 7 of the Delaware Registration process)
Picking a political party is not required. Selecting either Democratic or Republican Parties will allow you to vote in the primaries which helps narrow the choices before the big elections.
What happens after I register?
You should get a confirmation post card from the state Department of Elections, AND sometimes before a big election (usually the one in November).
If nothing comes in the mail before election day, your best choice is to check ivote.de.gov and sign in.
What are the different types of [government] elections we have?
-
- Federal primaries
- State primaries
- General Election (the big one in November)
- School Board (often includes referendums or local school taxes)
- City/Town (also known as Municipal – this depends on where you live as not everyone will have that option.))
- Special Elections
Primaries are only for Democrats and Republicans to narrow their choices before the big general election. All other parties do not have that option (i.e. independent, green party, etc).
What are the Special Elections?
Special Elections usually happen when a position becomes empty/vacant. This can be death or leaving the old job for a new job (kind of a ‘promotion’ usually).
Not everyone will vote in special elections. Only those who live where the old job’s district/area was will vote. It does depend on what the law says about such situations.
One example is when the person moved from a state to a federal role. That just means we need to fill the state role that is now empty/vacant.
The best way to find out is through ivote.de.gov and log into your account. It will tell you when and where to vote.
Every state election agency has a schedule of dates for everything including deadlines to register and vote. So, if you registered early enough, you probably can vote in the next election event/cycle.
The reason I mentioned the website is based on how you registered for elections. Since, DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) only registers you for big elections (i.e. President of USA and Governor of state), BUT not for local elections like city/town or school board.
What if I cannot make it on election day due to work or medical reason?
Delaware and many states allow early and/or mail in voting (also known as absentee ballots) if you cannot make it in person that day.
There is a list of reasons. The most common are military, planned medical surgery, vacation, working out of state.
What are the differences between early and absentee (mail in) ballot/voting?
Early basically means voting in-person a couple days before the main election event/day. Not all election types/events will have that option.
Absentee or mail in ballots are completed in the mail. Delaware generally uses a special blue envelop that you must complete correctly in order for the state to count your vote. For example, missing your signature or mailing the vote too late makes your vote invalid (no good).
How can I get an early or absentee (mail in) ballot?
Simply go to ivote.de.gov and log in. Then, select the absentee or early ballot option depending on your situation. After that, follow the prompts.
More on this at https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/waystovote.shtml.
I moved to a new home. Can I still vote? – make video
Simply doing a change of address with the Post Office is not acceptable. The Post Office only forwards your mail temporarily. In other words, you need to update all bills and important stuff with your new address.
If you moved around in the same state. You should update your address with the DMV and online at ivote.de.gov. This is important as your new home may have different candidates than your old home. That often happens when moving to a new school district/area too. This must be done at least 30 days before election day depending on requirements.
Otherwise, if you moved out of state – you just start a new voter registration depending on that state requirements. The steps should be similar to ‘Where to vote‘ above. Go to https://vote.gov and pick your new state.
More on this at https://www.usa.gov/change-voter-registration.
Special situations may apply like if you did not have enough time to update your information. The polling (voting) location near you may allow you to vote (except for presidential/general elections) provided you can show them proofs of your new address – follow the voting requirements above should work. After that, you need to register correctly. This depends on legal laws in that state also.
English is not good for me, what are my options? – make video
If you need help voting and English is not good for you. You can bring a friend to help. This applies to people with disabilities only. If you do not bring ‘help,’ polling sites can assign 2 poll watchers to help (1 Democrat and 1 Republican to give you neutral choices). All others can ask polling staff for help. Your boss or union rep are not allowed to help you out as it is illegal.
Be aware that many polling places/staff are not familiar with this legal right (option) and they may give you a hard time. Even bringing your kids too!
How do I find out who my political candidates choices are? – make video
Most people only know the big names like who is running for the President of the United States only. So, how do we find out who the other people running for office are?
The best way is to go to ivote.de.gov and use the ‘look up’ section. On the page that loads, there should be a ‘Sample Ballot’ button to list the candidates for an election event/cycle coming up soon. It should list all the candidates that registered in the state and got enough votes/petitions to be listed.
Be aware that the sample ballot only lists those in your election district/area based on where you live. Usually federal and top level state representatives (who will represent the entire state) will be similar to what your friends have around you. The difference usually is school boards, city/town and lower state level state representatives (in other words – local representatives).
Also if you go further down the web page, click on ‘Districts.’ This will show you what districts/areas are assigned to you with more details about what positions exist for each type. These are the types of people you can vote for.
One clarification to add here. Some words are abbreviated here which are….
Elect Dist = Electoral District (This is important as it helps the polling/voting staff/volunteers know which voting machines to go to. After that, the next few districts/areas noted below narrows down which machines to use.)
Rep Dist = Representative District (Your local delegate/congress district/area.)
Sen Dist = Senate District (Your local senate district/area.)
All of that information should be listed on a post card you may get in the mail too. Just the district/area numbers, not the names as that also tells election staffers which voting areas to use.
Another official website you could use instead of ivote.de.gov is to use gis.elections.delaware.gov. The ‘Election Lookup Tools’ will list all the candidates and their official websites. You will need the district/area information from ivote to find the candidates available to you.
There are nonpartisan organizations that provide information about all candidates. The League of Women Voters is one example and is well known from the early days of Women’s Suffrage that lead to Amendment 19 in 1920. NAD (National Association of the Deaf) and ACLU (Americans Civil Liberties Union) are other nonpartisan organizations. NAD does not usually make a list of candidates but ACLU does. Often these organizations send out questions to all candidates to answer that is shared with everyone. This information is sometimes not mentioned on the candidates official website so if you wanted to know more about certain policies like immigration, women’s health, disabilities, and such. Those nonpartisan websites are good resources to use. Just avoid those organizations and even news who are not ‘neutral’ that prefer/favor a person more than another. Social media does not count!
What a polling (voting) location looks like
Generally, polling (voting) locations will have some banners showing some candidate names. There may be volunteers trying to educate you on their candidates. You are not required to talk to them and they are not allowed to block you from voting (per law). No weapons are allowed and you can lose your right to vote too.
Do not leave the voting line after polling (voting) ends. Once you leave the line, you cannot go back to vote. Polling (voting) ends once all voters have voted.
One note, if you need the bathroom or a chair when there is a looonnnnnnnggggggg line – alert a polling (voting) staff to hold your place in the line or they can bring you a chair. You can bring a chair of sorts that you can carry or bring if needed too. (This is not mentioned in the video.)
One FYI not in the video, do not wear anything identifying a political party or candidate. It is illegal.
When you check in. The table where polling staff/volunteers are, you may see a sign saying ‘Voter Check-In.’ That paper basically says…
-
- to give your picture ID
- to write [on a piece of paper] or speak your name and address
- Sign the election/poll book next to your name
Delaware law says to confirm your identity before voting. That sign is your ADA right also. If you are Deaf or Speech Disabled, you can ask for paper and pen instead of talking.
Not all polling volunteers/staff are aware of our ADA legal rights. Try your best and stay calm then you can report a problem. You also can bring a friend too. Just not your boss or union rep.
How to vote using the new Express Vote XL machines
These machines are nice! Delaware started using these machines in 2019. You can change the font (letter) size, colors, move up/down the station, plug a headphone to it for low vision users, etc. Ask a volunteer to help adjust any of these settings if you want them. Basically you start voting by putting a special piece of paper inside the machine and follow the prompts/questions. Once you are done, the printed paper of your choices will disappear into a locked vault/box with a screen saying you voted. Once you finish, please inform a poll worker you finished. Be aware that you cannot change your vote or vote again in the same election cycle/event – only 1 time.
Do you have a criminal record? Learn more about Clean Slate Delaware
Starting August 2024, Delaware is one of the few states with automatic criminal record cleaning (expungement). This will take out most criminal records from background checks and allows you more freedom once more. Generally once you finish your parole and time served in prison, you may be able to vote again. More information on that at www.cleanslatede.org. Only felonies like murder, sex offenders and bribery are not allowed to vote again ever!
Our advice – honest voting – make video
These examples can get you arrested, fined and even lose your voting privilege.
-
- Only vote 1 (one) time per election event/cycle in your home/main state. Voting in another state is illegal!
- Don’t try to be someone else and vote in their name. Just don’t.
- Dress appropriately. Nothing representing a political party or a candidates name is allowed. It’s illegal. Keep it clean.
- No weapons allowed. Again, illegal.
- Don’t bully or bother other people. No drama. You can be kicked out.
- Don’t vote if you have a felony record unless a judge/court gave you the right to vote again.
Your best bet is to vote honestly and accurately.
If you have any problems voting, such as not being able to vote or you were blocked from going inside the election building. Violence is not tolerated either and police may be called in to help remove those people.
If you are in jail, you won’t be able to vote.
Report it right away to Dept. of Elections. It must be in writing and signed with notarization. Community Legal Aid Society Inc (CLASI) can help with this too.