House Democrats are proposing Delawareans vote-by-mail in this year’s state primary and general elections.
"It's a safe and secure, clean way for voters to exercise their rights," said State Rep. Gerald Brady (D-Wilmington) explaining the advantages of voting by mail especially if the coronavirus pandemic continues.
His legislation would establish voting by mail in the state, and Brady says an amendment by State Rep. David Bentz (D-Bear) would move the timeline up, rather than starting in 2022 as originally intended.
"It would take effect immediately as soon as the governor would sign it." said Brady. "That would enable each and every registered voter in the state of Delaware the right to exercise a new form of balloting."
The issue is getting the General Assembly together for a vote. The session is on hold with no return date in sight, and according to House Speaker Pete Schwarzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach), there are no plans to call lawmakers back.
But Brady says it's still a possibility because of the budget.
"By Constitution, the General Assembly is required to pass a budget each year so at some point more than likely the General Assembly will have to convene prior to June the 30th and at which time it could be heard for its third and final reading," said Brady.
If they do, Brady expects bipartisan support for this bill.
"I've received numerous, numerous emails and text messages to that effect. Given the situation, I certainly would expect that it would be embraced," Brady said.
Under the legislation, the state elections commission would administer the vote-by-mail program, and ballots would be processed and scanned before Election Day, but not tabulated until Election Day.
Ballots could be mailed in, dropped off at any polling place on Election Day, or dropped off in a secure drop box at each county elections office prior to Election Day.
Gov.Carney’s latest State of Emergency does allow people to vote by absentee ballot in the state’s presidential primary that was postponed from April 28th to June 2nd.
