Released: April 21, 2022
Delaware County Elections continues preparations for the May 17, 2022 Primary Election. Final polling site assignments, ballot preparations, ballot mailings, and equipment testing are proceeding, and staff and volunteer training activities are well under way in anticipation of increased voter requests for services and information during the final weeks before Election Day.
The deadline to register to vote—for first time voters in Delaware County and for voters who have already registered but need to update their address, name, or party affiliation—is Monday, May 2. The deadline for voters to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot (either a no-excuse mail-in ballot or a traditional absentee ballot) is Tuesday, May 10. Election Day itself is Tuesday, May 17, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (which is also the cut-off for the County to receive voted mail-in and civilian absentee ballots). The last day for the County to receive Military and Overseas Absentee Ballots is Tuesday, May 24.
Voters are reminded that Pennsylvania has closed primaries. This means that under Pennsylvania law, voters who are registered as independents or with a third party will not be eligible to cast ballots at this primary. Because the May 17 ballots include only Democratic and Republican candidates—with no referenda questions or amendments—only voters registered with the Democratic or Republican parties will be able to receive a ballot and vote.
Voters who wish to vote for a candidate in the May 17 Primary Election have until May 2 to update their registrations—with a change in party affiliation either to Democratic or Republican.
Sample ballots and a final list of candidates are available on the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/sample. Easy-to-use polling place resources, including an interactive map, downloadable list, and a lookup tool, will be finalized shortly and can be accessed at delcopa.gov/polls.
Based on COVID-19 community-transmission data, wearing a mask is encouraged but optional for both voters and poll workers. Social distancing is encouraged when possible.
In order to vote in Delaware County, an individual must be a US citizen, at least 18 years of age and have been a resident of their precinct at least 30 days before Election Day. Qualified voters may register online at delcopa.gov/register2vote, by mail (forms are available at delcopa.gov/registerbymail), or in-person at the Voter Service Center on the first floor of the Government Center Building at 201 W. Front Street in Media.
In-person registrations are due by 4:30 p.m. May 2 and on-line registrations must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 2. Voters who are unsure of their registration status may check their registration through the State’s Votes PA website at delcopa.gov/regstatus.
The bulk of Delaware County vote-by-mail ballots requested to-date will be mailed by Mon., April 25. Vote-by-Mail ballots are sent only to those voters who have completed and signed an application in 2022 to vote-by-mail during the 2022 calendar year, which must include valid ID.
Voters who have not yet applied for a vote-by-mail ballot must complete the application process by Tuesday, May 10 at 5 p.m. Vote-by-Mail applications may be submitted on the Votes PA website accessible at delcopa.gov/vbm-app.
Delaware County Elections maintains more than 40 safe, secure, ADA-compliant ballot drop boxes, operated under 24/7 video surveillance. The drop boxes are located in the majority of municipalities across the County, and—unlike the requirement that in-person voters must vote at a specific polling place—the drop boxes can be used by any Delaware County voter regardless of their place of residence.
Ballot drop boxes are scheduled to open May 2. Before May 2, voters may use the drop box in the Government Center in Media, located inside Orange Street entrance. Most drop boxes are open 24/7; however, a few sites have limited hours. For a complete list of sites and hours of operation, visit the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/dropbox.
Delaware County voters have several resources available to help simplify the voting process. The Delaware County Election Hotline (610-891-VOTE) is available Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The Delaware County Voter Service Center provides a variety of in-person voter services and is available Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Wednesdays through 8 p.m.), Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon, and on Election Day only, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 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.