Some voters were were automatically enrolled when they applied for a driver’s license, learner’s permit or state ID card and didn’t pick a party can do it the day of the primary.
On primary election day, Sept. 10, a small number of new Delaware voters will be able to choose a political party and vote in its primary.
Those voters usually are people who applied for a driver’s license or to renew on, have applied for a learner’s permit or state identification card, or have applied to have their name or address changed on any of those documents, but didn’t affiliate with a specific party.
It also includes anyone who is not registered to vote, is of sufficient age and whose citizenship has been confirmed by the Division of Motor Vehicles.
The right to declare a party after being automatically enrolled only extends to the first primary election after they are enrolled, said Cathleen Carter, spokeswoman for the Department of Elections.
“Per Delaware law, currently registered voters may not change their party affiliation on the day of the state primary election,” said Delaware Election Commissioner Anthony Albence. “However, if a voter was newly registered to vote through the automatic voter registration process at the Division of Motor Vehicles, the voter may choose to affiliate with a political party up to and including the day of the 9/10 State Primary Election and vote for that party’s races in that election.”
That could be particularly tempting this year as the governor’s race heats up with a month to go.
Primary election rules
Those voters also can choose a primary at any early voting site, the election office said.
For other registered voters, the deadline to change parties to vote in the primary was Friday, May 24.
Because Delaware is a closed primary state, only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote in the primary election, according to Delaware law.
Some states allow all voters to choose which primary they want to vote in, but a move to allow that in Delaware failed in the General Assembly in the last session.
Registering at the polls is not the only way that people listed on automatic voter registration may declare a party, but it is the last chance they have on primary election day.
They also may complete a form online or mark their choice of party on a letter they receive when they are registered and return it.
Voters who do not want to declare a party affiliation are not required to.
Those who are automatically registered are only a small percentage of the overall number of voters.
