Gov. John Carney will sign a bill Friday to allow voters to send their ballots through the mail in all future elections, according to his communications director. The Republican Party of Delaware promised to respond swiftly in the form of a lawsuit. “When [the bill] first passed the General Assembly, we expressed concerns about its constitutionality,” said Jane Brady, chairwoman …
Vote by mail bill heads to Delaware governor
Gov. John Carney has taken possession of a bill to allow Delawareans to vote by mail in all future elections. Carney has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to either sign or veto the bill. Senate Bill 320 creates an opt-in vote-by-mail system wherein voters will have to request a ballot before one is sent. Ballots and ballot applications will not be …
Lawmakers praise formal application process for state grants
A change to the way non-profits apply for state community development funds has lawmakers and advocates on both sides of the aisle applauding what they consider a victory for transparency in government. When the General Assembly passed the largest Bond Bill in state history this June, it authorized $90 million in grants for projects aimed at improving the economic, cultural, …
Reading, teacher retention top successful 2022 education billsĀ
Rodel, a local nonprofit espousing better education in Delaware, calls the 151st General Assembly, which just ended, the āEducation General Assembly,ā in regard to the number of education bills that passed. āThere’s more than 50 education bills this session and a 7% increase in the budget,ā said Madeleine Bayard, senior vice president of Rodel. āThey got a lot done and …
$69.4 million grant-in-aid bill signed by Carney
The Delaware Senate passed a $69.4 million grant-in-aid bill about 6 p.m. Thursday, just hours before it was set to end the annual session of the Delaware General Assembly. Two hours later, the House passed it, too, making the bill’s next stop the desk of Gov. John Carney, where he signed it June 30. Senate Bill 252, sponsored by Sen. …
2023-4 state budgets pass House; head to Carney’s desk
The Delaware House of Representatives passed four state budgets for the 2023-24 year in 15 minutes in a no-fuss set-em-up, knock-em-down run. The bills’ next stop will be Gov. John Carney’s desk, because they passed the Senate on Tuesday. “I think we have a budget that we can be proud of,” said Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna/Dover, and co-chairman of …
Same-day voter registration bill heads to Carney
The Delaware Senate on Wednesday voted along party lines for a same-day voter registration bill. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 25, sponsored by Rep. Sherry Dorsey-Walker, D-Wilmington, will allow residents to register at the polls on election day and immediately vote. The bill already passed the House and now goes to Gov. John Carney for his signature. When he …
Bill to bypass Constitution, create vote-by-mail system passes committee
A bill to bypass the need to amend Delawareās Constitution and cement no-excuse absentee ballots in future elections was released from a House Committee Wednesday despite objections from Republicans.Ā Senate Bill 320, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Ardens, has already passed in the Senate.Ā If passed, the bill creates an opt-in vote-by-mail system wherein voters will have to request …
Senate passes budget bills topping $5 billion
The Delaware Senate on Tuesday passed 2023 budget bills including the largest state operating budget in Delaware’s history at $5.1 billion, reflecting a rise in spending of 6.9% in spending over the previous year. It also will increase Delaware’s Rainy Day Fund from $280 million to $316 million and the Budget Stabilization Fund from $287 million to $402 million. Both …
Senate OKs mail-in voting despite claims it violates Constitution
The Delaware Senate on Thursday passed a controversial bill to cement mail-in voting as an option for voters in all future elections. Senate Bill 320, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Ardens, passed 13 to 8 just before midnight with a last-minute amendment from Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover. “While vote by mail is particularly helpful for those who may find …