2025 VoteDelaware Questionnaire Responses: Representative Alonna Berry

1. A recent independent report commissioned by the State of Delaware found that public schools across the state are underfunded by $600 million dollars and recommended increased per-pupil funding, transparency, and the flexibility to allocate resources. If elected what concrete steps would you propose to take to ensure districts close the funding deficit to provide a constitutionally adequate education?

YES
Every child in Sussex County and across Delaware deserves a high-quality education, no matter their zip code. As a former classroom teacher, school founder, education policy advisor, and advocate, I believe every child deserves a school that meets their needs. Every family deserves a voice in shaping their child’s future. I’ll fight for fully funded schools, which includes increased per-pupil funding, fair pay for educators, and programs that uplift the whole child, from early learning to career readiness.

2. The Education Equity Ombudsperson program was codified into law last year without guaranteed continuing funding to ensure that the program is sustainable.  Will you support legislation to maintain the current annual funding of $1 million to support students statewide facing inequitable treatment? 

YES
Yes. As a Representative, I will vote to fund the Education Equity Ombudsperson program, which will become more essential than ever with the chaos and defunding occurring on the federal level.

3. The second Trump administration is attempting to cut off federal benefits to undocumented and other immigrants. This impacts many Delawareans including mixed status families, U.S. citizens, and immigrant workers who fuel our economy. Will you support expanding and publicizing state-based assistance programs that cover immigrants, including recently arrived migrants and asylum seekers, to ensure they can access critical services like medical care and food assistance?

YES
Yes. We know that when more families in Delaware are healthy and well-fed, we all benefit. I will support and fight for expanding state-based assistance programs to support the communities and individuals who need it most.

4. During the first week of the second Trump administration, the federal government rescinded the sensitive location memo, allowing ICE to now conduct immigration enforcement at areas such as courthouses, schools, places of worship, and hospitals. Families in our community are now scared to send their kids to school or seek medical care when sick. In response, HB 93, HB 94, and HB 150 have been introduced to begin protecting these locations in Delaware from immigration enforcement. Will you support these bills and any other sensitive location bills that might be introduced?

YES
Yes, as a Representative, I would be proud to co-sponsor this legislation. We have seen that Federal officials have wrongfully arrested and detained citizens, disappeared people for exercising free speech, and people with no verifiable criminal record being sent to prisons in other countries. This is behavior that undermines our legal system and goes against our fundamental ideals as a democracy. We must protect our most basic human rights.

5. President Trump has promised to use all powers and tools at his disposal to find and deport 11 million immigrants. To do this, his administration needs information about the status and location of undocumented immigrants. The administration has applied pressure to states to turn over information about its residents, including immigrants. Will you support legislation, such as HB 60 and HB 95, that would protect immigrants’ data from requests from the federal government when that information would be used to enhance federal immigration enforcement?

YES​​​​​​​
Yes. All Delawareans deserve to have their private information protected.

6. In 2017, Delaware codified the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in state law to ensure the right to an abortion remained protected. However, these protections could be removed through a simple majority vote and signature of the Governor. Will you support a state constitutional amendment to explicitly protect peoples’ access to reproductive healthcare and set the strongest legal standards?

YES
Yes. As a birthing person, currently living through the fourth trimester, I know firsthand the challenges, dangers, and uncertainty surrounding reproductive rights. I firmly believe that reproductive healthcare is healthcare. I fought to ensure protections remained in place here in Delaware while serving as the Governor’s healthcare advisor, and I’ll continue that fight in the General Assembly.

7. Black maternal mortality rates continue to increase in Delaware, with the gap in healthcare disparities widening. Additionally, life-saving gender affirming care is legal in our state but becoming harder to access. Will you support the creation of a Gender & Reproductive Healthcare Equity Fund that would support the additional costs of accessing reproductive healthcare and gender affirming care for uninsured or underinsured people and fund the recruitment and expansion of the number of healthcare providers, including doula providers, in the state?

YES
Yes, as a black birthing person, I understand the risk and fear associated with childbirth. I would support the creation of a Gender & Reproductive Healthcare Equity Fund.

8. Delaware’s probation system is broken. It does not provide the resources and support needed for successful reentry, while allowing for overly harsh punishment for minor infractions. Will you support legislation restricting the use of incarceration for technical violations when no new crime has been committed?

YES
Yes. There is much work to be done in our state to better support those in our legal system. I will support legislation that keeps people home with their families and our communities safe.

9. Reverse warrants are unconstitutional investigatory tools that ignore the requirements of the 4th Amendment and conduct dragnet-style searches of digital data. As the corporate home of the majority of the country’s large tech companies, Delaware can play an important role in curtailing the use of reverse warrants within our state and across the country. Will you support legislation that bans the use of reverse warrants and protects people’s 4th Amendment rights?

YES
Yes, I would support legislation that protects 4th Amendment rights.

10. Delaware has a two-tiered justice system: one for those with the financial resources to quickly pay court-imposed fines and fees and another for those who lack the ability to pay. This dichotomy in our legal system causes long-term negative impacts for people in poverty and perpetuates cycles of financial hardship and incarceration. Will you support HB 133, legislation that allows judges to waive fines and fees when an individual does not have the ability to pay?

YES
Yes, our legal system should not criminalize poverty and I will fight to make sure it does not.

11. The Delaware Supreme Court recently upheld Delaware’s early in-person voting law, but it remains vulnerable to future legal challenges. Will you support SS 1 for SB 2, a constitutional amendment which protects Delaware’s 10 days of early in-person voting?

YES
Yes, I would proudly support legislation to protect early in-person voting. It is essential we offer more access for voters to participate in our democracy.

12. As of 2024, nearly 3,000 Delawareans were disenfranchised while on felony probation. Voting allows people to remain connected to their communities and helps facilitate the re-entry process. Will you support HB 180, a constitutional amendment allowing all people to vote after imprisonment?

YES
Yes. I will support legislation to restore full voting rights for individuals who were previously incarcerated.

13. Delaware is one of just sixteen states that requires voters to register at least 24 days in advance of an election. Will you support HB 88, a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to change the registration deadline?

YES​​​​​​​
Yes, I will support legislation to allow our General Assembly to change the registration deadline. I support same-day registration to allow voters to register the day of the election.

14. Delaware is one of just fourteen states that requires voters to have an excuse to cast an absentee ballot. Additionally, our permanent absentee voting system is at risk. Will you support SS 1 for SB 3, a constitutional amendment allowing for no-excuse absentee voting and protecting permanent absentee voting?

YES
Yes, I would support legislation that helps to increase the participation of everyone in our democratic process.