Vote-by-Mail Ballots

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1/23/2024 Update! Delaware County Elections has mailed 100K Vote-by-Mail ballot applications for the 2024 election year | Read More.

About Vote-by-Mail Ballots

Delaware County registered voters can vote in every election using a Vote-by-Mail ballot, which will allow them to cast their ballot by mail, at any of the more than three dozen Delaware County Ballot Drop Boxes located in municipalities throughout Delaware County, or in-person at the Delaware County Bureau of Election’s Voter Service Center at the Government Center Building in Media, PA.


Applications for vote-by-mail ballots and important details regarding vote-by-mail ballot returns, last minute emergencies, and other considerations are found below.

Please note that Pennsylvania Act 77, passed in 2019, created a new ‘no excuse’ mail-in ballot that voters can obtain by simply submitting an application. The ‘no excuse’ mail-in ballot is similar to the traditional absentee ballot, except those who request an absentee ballot are required to provide a valid reason as to why they cannot vote in-person on Election Day. The term “vote-by-mail” is used to describe both ballot types—the mail-in ballot and the absentee ballot.



Important Vote-by-Mail Dates

Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Deadline: Applications for mail-in ballots and absentee ballots must be received by Delaware County Bureau of Elections no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 7 days before Election Day.

Ballot Returns: Completed Vote-by-Mail ballots must be received by the Bureau of Elections no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, April 23, 2024.



APPLYING FOR YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

Apply for a Vote-by-Mail Ballot Online

Registered voters may use the Pennsylvania Ballot Request Application to apply online.


Apply for a Vote-by-Mail Ballot with a Paper Application

You may download and print a mail-in ballot application or absentee ballot application:

Mail-in Ballot Applications:

Application for Mail-in Ballot (English)
Application for Mail-in Ballot (Spanish)
Application for Mail-in Ballot (Vietnamese)
Application for Mail-in Ballot (Chinese Simplified)
Application for Mail-in Ballot (Chinese Traditional)

Absentee Ballot Applications:

Application for Absentee Ballot (English)
Application for Absentee Ballot (Spanish)
Application for Absentee Ballot (Vietnamese)
Application for Absentee Ballot (Chinese Simplified)
Application for Absentee Ballot (Chinese Traditional)

Mail your completed mail-in ballot application or absentee ballot application to the Bureau of Elections:

Delaware County Bureau of Elections
2501 Seaport Dr. Suite BH120
Chester, PA 19013


Apply for a Vote-by-Mail Ballot In-Person

You may visit our Delaware County Bureau of Elections Voter Service Center to request a mail-in ballot application or absentee ballot application in person.

You may also mark and return your ballot during the same visit.


Canceling Your Vote-by-Mail Ballot and Permanent Status

If you wish to no longer receive a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election you can submit this form to cancel the request and instead vote in-person on Election Day.

Delaware County voters may return the form to:

Delaware County Bureau of Elections
2501 Seaport Drive
Suite BH120
Chester, PA 19013-2267

Request to Cancel Vote-by-Mail Ballot Form



RECEIVING AND COMPLETING YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT OR ABSENTEE BALLOT

All vote-by-mail ballot applications are processed by the Delaware County Bureau of Elections. Processing time varies. Check the status of your vote-by-mail ballot application using the Election Ballot Status Check tool. Once you receive your ballot, review the materials.

Mark your ballot, following instructions included with the ballot.

Once you have filled out your vote-by-mail ballot, place it in the secrecy envelope (marked "Official Ballot Envelope") and then put the sealed secrecy envelope inside the larger Ballot Return Envelope. Be sure to sign and date the declaration on your Ballot Return Envelope to make sure that your ballot counts.



VOTE-BY-MAIL ELECTION BALLOT STATUS CHECK

Delaware County voters can check the status of their Vote-by-Mail ballot application with the Pennsylvania Department of State's Election Ballot Status tool.



RETURNING YOUR MAIL-IN/ABSENTEE BALLOT

Important Reminder! Whether you are returning your ballot by mail, ballot drop box, or in-person at the Voter Service Center, please be sure to place your voted mail-in/absentee ballot in the secrecy ballot provided to you, seal it, and then place this envelope within the larger return envelope. Then fill out, sign, and date the declaration on the outside of the return envelope. If your ballot is mailed without the secrecy envelope or your return envelope is not signed your vote will not be counted.

Important Reminder! Return of a ballot by anyone other than the voter is prohibited unless the person returning the ballot is rendering assistance to a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter. Such assistance requires a declaration signed by the voter and by the person rendering assistance. The declaration form is linked below, and can be returned in-person or by mail (details below).

Third Party Vote-by-Mail Ballot Pick Up & Return Authorization Form

This form can be returned in person:

Media Voter Service Center at the Government Center Building
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063-2728
[Google Map]
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

This form can also be returned by mail:

Delaware County Bureau of Elections
2501 Seaport Dr. Suite BH120
Chester, PA 19013


Returning Your Vote-by-Mail (Mail-in or Absentee) Ballot by Mail

The official mail-in ballot and absentee Ballot Return Envelope is self-addressed and postage-paid. Simply place the envelope in your typical mail pickup repository, any USPS Drop Box, or have USPS pick up your ballot like any other parcel for no charge (all ballots are self-addressed, and postage paid).

You can also choose to use an alternate mail carrier, including FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. Visit the carrier’s website for more information regarding deliverability and possible charges.

USPS  |  FedEx  |  UPS  |  DHL

Vote-by-Mail ballots must be received by the County by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Civilian ballots cast in the United States received after 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, April 23—regardless of postmark—cannot be counted. However, military and overseas voters’ ballots can be received through Tuesday, April 30.


Returning Your Mail-In Ballot or Absentee Ballot at a Delaware County Ballot Drop Box

Mail-in ballots and absentee ballots can be returned to the Delaware County Bureau of Elections through any Delaware County Ballot Drop Box. Vote-by-mail ballots must be placed in a secure ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7. Postage is not required.


Returning Your Mail-In Ballot or Absentee Ballot at the Bureau of Elections Voter Service Center in Media

Mail-in ballots and absentee ballots can be returned to the Delaware County Bureau of Elections Voter Service Center. Vote-by-mail ballots cast at a Voter Service Center must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, April 23.



LAST MINUTE EMERGENCIES

In emergency situations (such as an unexpected illness or disability and last-minute absence) following the deadline at 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election, you can request an Emergency Absentee Ballot.

Emergency Absentee Ballot Request Form

The deadline to submit your Emergency Absentee Ballot Application to the County Election Office is 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, April 23.

If you are unable to pick up and/or return your emergency absentee ballot yourself, this form allows you to authorize a representative to do it for you. The voter or authorized representative must return this form and the ballot to the County Bureau of Elections by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, April 23.

Authorized Representative for Emergency Absentee Ballot Form



MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS

To register to vote and/or apply for an absentee ballot as a military or civilian overseas voter, you can complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Return the signed form by:

Email attachment to DelcoElection@co.delaware.pa.us, or mail to:

Delaware County Bureau of Elections
2501 Seaport Dr. Suite BH120
Chester, PA 19013

The deadline to register to vote is TWO WEEKS before Election Day, and a ballot request must be received by the day BEFORE Election Day. For more information, see the Federal Voting Assistance Program guide for Pennsylvania.

You can select to receive your absentee ballot by email/online, fax, or mail. Once you receive the ballot, mark it and submit it for delivery by mail no later than 11:59 p.m. on the day BEFORE Election Day. The Bureau of Elections must receive voted military and overseas absentee ballots by 5:00 p.m. ONE WEEK after Election Day.

If you do not receive your absentee ballot in time to return it to participate in the election, you can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). This is an official backup ballot that is blank, meaning it does not include the names of any candidates. It can only be used if you have already submitted an FPCA request, and a FWAB will only be counted if we do not receive your absentee ballot by the deadline. You can review the Notice approximately one month prior to Election Day to determine which offices that will be included on the ballot.



HOW TO VOTE IN-PERSON IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

If you receive a mail-in/absentee ballot but decide you would prefer to vote in person at your polling place, you can do so. You must bring your ballot in the declaration envelope with you on Election Day, inform the poll workers that you would like to spoil your ballot and vote in-person instead, and surrender it to your precinct Judge of Elections. You can then cast a regular in-person ballot.

If you do not have your mail-in/absentee ballot and envelope to surrender at your polling place, you may cast a provisional ballot. This will be counted only if the Bureau of Elections does not receive the mail-in/absentee ballot that was sent to you.



Contact Us

  •   201 West Front Street,
         Media, PA 19063
  •   8:30AM - 4:30PM
           Monday - Friday
  •   610-891-4000
  • webmaster@co.delaware.pa.us

About Delaware County

Delaware County, presently consisting of over 184 square miles divided into forty-nine municipalities is the oldest settled section of Pennsylvania.


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