Delaware County Bureau of Elections Completes Mailing of Nearly 60K Mail/Absentee

Released: October 4, 2024

Delaware County Bureau of Elections Completes Mailing of Nearly 60K Mail/Absentee Ballots for November General Election

Drop box at Govt Center in Media now open; All other County drop boxes to open Oct. 14

This week, the Delaware County Bureau of Elections completed the mailing of approximately 59,700 mail/absentee ballots for the upcoming General Election on November 5, 2024. The Bureau anticipates Delaware County addressees will receive their ballots by Sat., Oct. 5. Additionally, the Voter Service Center in Media is open now, six days a week, to help voters apply for and receive mail/absentee ballots in person.

This initial mailing included ballots for voters who applied by September 21. Voters who applied on or before this date and do not receive their ballot by Saturday, October 5, should contact the Delaware County Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE (8683).

A second batch of roughly 5,500 mail/absentee applications received through September 30 will be mailed next week. Additional mail/absentee ballots will be mailed in weekly batches as applications are submitted until the October 29 application deadline.

Returning Your Ballot

Delaware County voters can return their completed ballots in the following ways:

• Govt. Center Ballot Drop Box:  Voters can return their ballots immediately at the ballot drop box located on the ground floor of the Government Center Building (201 W. Front Street, Media), which is open 24/7.
• Mail:  Ballots can also be returned via USPS or other mail delivery services.
• Other County Drop Boxes:  Starting Monday, October 14, voters will have access to over three dozen ballot drop box locations across the county. Most sites will be open 24/7, and the complete list of locations and hours is available at DelcoPA.Gov/Dropbox. Ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5.

Steps for Returning Your Mail/Absentee Ballot

To ensure ballot are counted, voters must properly mark, seal, and return their ballots:

• Place the marked ballot in the yellow ‘Secrecy Envelope’ (labeled "Official Election Ballot").
• Seal the yellow Secrecy Envelope.
• Insert the Secrecy Envelope into the purple-and-white Ballot Return Envelope.
• Seal the purple-and-white Ballot Return Envelope.
• Sign and date the declaration on the back of the purple-and-white Ballot Return Envelope.
• Return the ballot via USPS or any Delaware County Ballot Drop Box.
• If a mistake is made, or if assistance is needed, voters may contact the Delaware County Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE (8683) or visit the Delaware County Voter Service Center in Media for a replacement ballot.

In-Person Voter Service Center for Mail/Absentee Ballots

The Delaware County Voter Service Center, located at 201 W. Front Street, offers in-person voting for registered voters. Voters can visit the center to apply for and cast their ballot in-person before Election Day. The Voter Service Center is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays (until 7:00 p.m.) and Saturdays (9:00 a.m. to noon) through Nov. 1.

On Election Day, the Voter Service Center will be open from 7:00 a.m. until polls close at 8:00 p.m.

Important Reminders for Voters

• Mail/absentee ballots are sent only to those who have completed a valid application to vote by mail in 2024. Applications are available on the Delco Votes! website at DelcoPA.Gov/Vote.
• Voters may track the status of their ballots on the PA Department of State website at Vote.PA.Gov/MailBallotStatus.
• Voters must only return their own ballots, unless assisting a disabled voter or emergency absentee voter, which requires a signed declaration form. This form is available at DelcoPA.Gov/Dropbox.

The Delco Votes! Website provides election news, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, polling site information, and access to forms and livestreams of Board of Elections meetings at DelcoPA.Gov/Vote