Delaware voters have shown unprecedented enthusiasm for early voting in the lead-up to the 2024 general election. With the early voting period starting on October 25 and set to conclude on November 3, over 153,000 Delawareans have already cast their ballots, significantly outpacing the 55,655 who voted early during the 2022 midterms.
This year marks Delaware’s first presidential election with an early voting option, a practice that began in 2022.
In response to high demand, the Delaware Department of Elections has expanded resources across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.
Additional machines have been placed in high-traffic locations, such as the Hudson State Service Center in Newark, which has also moved to a larger space to accommodate voters. Other sites, including the Christina Crossing in New Castle and various locations in Kent and Sussex, have also seen machine upgrades.
Absentee voting remains a popular option, with nearly 47,500 voters mailing in their ballots. Although the scanning of absentee votes has begun, results will only be tabulated after polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5.
Delaware’s early voting law, initially enacted in 2019, was reinstated in June 2022 following a Supreme Court ruling that found plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the policy.
The decision reaffirmed both early and absentee voting, solidifying Delaware’s commitment to accessible voting options.