Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 3: No-Excuse, Absentee Voting

  • Status: Passed Senate
  • Position: Support
  • Bill Number: Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 3
  • Session: 153rd General Assembly
  • Latest Update: March 1, 2025
SS 1 for SB 3

Summary

Update: April 9, 2025

The House introduced Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 3 (SS 1 for SB 3).

One thing is at the very core of our democracy: choice. Delaware voters should be able to decide what method of casting their ballot works best for them. The option to vote by mail is a safe and secure way to expand access to the ballot and increase voter participation in our state.

Right now, Delaware is one of just 14 states that require voters to give an excuse to cast an absentee ballot.

In 2020, through an emergency exception that made no-excuse vote-by-mail temporarily available, Delaware voters proved vote-by-mail is possible, practical, and successful. Now it’s time for Delaware to make it permanent.

Senate Bill 3 would allow all registered voters to vote by mail without needing an excuse, and protects permanent absentee voter status.

Every Vote Counts Campaign

Sponsors:
Brown, Pinkney, Townsend, Bush, Heffernan, Snyder-Hall, Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable, Sokola, Sturgeon, Burns, Cooke, Morrison, Romer, Ross Levin, K. Williams, Wilson-Anton

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