Released: May 9, 2022
Delaware County voters have until 5 p.m. on Tues., May 10, to submit an application for a vote-by-mail ballot (either a no-excuse mail-in ballot or a traditional absentee ballot) for the upcoming Tues., May 17 Primary Election. As a reminder, vote-by-mail ballots are sent only to those voters who complete an application (signed with a valid form of ID) after January 1, 2022. Voters who voted by mail in previous years do not receive vote-by-mail ballots automatically.
Voters who are unsure if they are registered to vote-by-mail, or registered but have yet to receive their ballot in the mail, can check their status at delcopa.gov/ballotstatus. Voters can also contact the Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE with questions, or to discuss how to proceed if the voter’s ballot is damaged, missing, or marked improperly.
For voters who prefer to cast a vote-by-mail ballot but have not yet applied, vote-by-mail applications are available for download from the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/vbm-app and can also be obtained in-person at the Delaware County at the Voter Service Center. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, on the ground floor of the Government Center Building (located inside the Orange Street entrance) at 201 W. Front St., in Media.
By law, only voters already registered with the Democratic or Republican parties will be allowed to vote their respective party’s primary ballot at this election. Voters who are registered as independents or with a third party are not eligible to cast ballots for the May 17 Primary Election and will not receive vote-by-mail ballots if they apply.
Completed vote-by-mail ballots may be returned at any of the County’s 40+ ballot drop boxes* through 8 p.m. on Election Day on Tues., May 17. Ballots returned through the US Postal Service must be received by the Elections Department no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of postmark. Postage is not required.
Voters who are casting a vote-by-mail ballot must mark their ballots in blue or black ink. Once the ballot has been completed, voters should place the ballot into the smaller of the two envelopes (marked Official Ballot Envelope), seal that envelope, and then place that into the larger pre-paid return envelope. Voters must then complete the voter declaration section on the exterior of the return envelope, being sure to include their signature, printed name, address, and the date. Incomplete or inaccurate voter information may disqualify the ballot.
Voters are reminded that they may use any Delaware County ballot drop box to return their completed ballot, but each voter may return only that voter’s own ballot. Voters cannot return ballots for spouses, family members, or other individuals unless an official ‘3rd Party Delivery Form’ (formerly called the “Authorize a Designated Agent to Help You Obtain and/or Return Your Mail-in or Absentee Ballot”) has been submitted and approved by the PA Department of State. Voters who attempt to return ballots on behalf of other voters without authorization will be referred to the Delaware County District Attorney for investigation.
For more information, voters are reminded that the Delaware County’s election website — Delco Votes! — provides news, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, polling location information, access to downloadable and online forms, livestreams and recordings of Board of Elections meetings, and more at delcopa.gov/vote.
* Chadds Ford closes at 4 p.m. on Election Night.