You must be registered in order to vote in Delaware. The deadline to register to vote prior to a General or Primary Election is the fourth Saturday before the day of the election. A person registering to vote in Delaware must be a permanent resident of the state and must register at the address of his/her permanent place of residence in Delaware.

You may designate a political party affiliation when you register to vote. You may affiliate with any political party when registering to vote. If you do not designate a political party affiliation,you will be registered as independent.

Delaware is a closed primary state. Only persons registered as Democrats are permitted to vote in the Democratic Primary and only persons registered as Republicans are permitted to vote in the Republican Primary. All other political parties select their candidates at a convention.

Registered voters are not permitted to change their political party affiliation in the year of a General Election from March 31 through the day of the Primary Election. Additionally, registered voters are prohibited from changing their political party affiliation from November 1 in the year prior to a Presidential Election through the day of the Presidential Primary Election.

In order to register to vote in Delaware you must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States. For the purposes of eligibility to vote, this includes individuals born in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
2. Be a resident of Delaware. This means that Delaware is your domicile, your home.
3. Be 18 years of age on or before the date of the next General Election.
4. Not be a convicted felon. NOTE: Except for persons convicted of certain crimes, persons convicted of a felony may have their voting rights restored 5 years after completion of their sentence to include payment of any fines and restitution.
5. Not be adjudged mentally incompetent.

You may register to vote.

• Anytime except during the period beginning the fourth Sunday before the Presidential Primary, Primary and General Election through the day of the respective election.
• You may change your political party affiliation except during the closed period prior to each primary or presidential primary election.

You may register to vote at the Department of Elections for New Castle County. NOTE: You must present proof of identity and address when registering at the Department of Elections.

You may register to vote by mail, by:

• Calling the Department of Elections and requesting the Department mail you an application. Once you receive the application, you must verify the information, strike-out and correct any incorrect information, sign the application and return it to the Department.
• Requesting in writing that the Department of Elections for New Castle County send an application to you. Once you receive the application, you must verify the information, strike-out and correct any incorrect information, sign the application and return it to the Department.
• Completing a pre-printed and pre-addressed post card requesting that an application be sent to you and returning or having someone return the postcard to the Department of Elections for New Castle County. The Department will then mail you an application. Once you receive the application, you must verify the information, strike-out and correct any incorrect information, sign the application and return it to the Department.
• Completing a Federal Post Card Application (military members and overseas civilians) and mailing it to the Department of Elections for New Castle County.
• Completing a Federal Mail Application and mailing it to the Commissioner of Elections or to the Department of Elections for New Castle County. This procedure is usually used by individuals temporarily absent from the state (such as students or people on vacation). Delaware accepts the downloadable version of this form.
• IMPORTANT: Federal legislation requires that persons who are NOT registered to vote and who register to vote by mail after January 1, 2003, provide proof of identity and address at the time of registration or prior to voting for the first time at the polling place or by absentee ballot. Additional information about this requirement. This does not apply to registered voters who are updating their address, name or political party affiliation!

You may also register to vote:

• By using Delaware's on-line registration tool.
• At a Mobile Registration site as scheduled by the Department of Elections for New Castle County to comply with the Delaware Code, in support of municipal charter requirements prior to municipal elections, or as requested by individuals or organizations. The deployment of Mobile Registration Teams may be limited by the availability of funds.
• At private and governmental entities that apply to the Commissioner of Elections and are trained by the Office of the Commissioner of Elections to serve as temporary registrars.
• Division of Motor Vehicle offices when applying for, renewing or updating a Driver's License or State ID Card.
• At State Service Centers (Department of Health and Social Services).
• At the Department of Labor -- Division of Training and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
• At WIC Program offices when applying for services or assistance.
• At Armed Forces Recruitment Offices when applying for services.
• At the Office of the Commissioner of Elections, 111 S WEST ST SUITE 10, DOVER DE 19904
• At some Social Security offices.
• At institutions of higher education when you register for classes.