FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 10, 2025
Contact: Caroline Klinger (302) 599-9705
Sponsored by Senator Darius Brown, the State Senate passed Senate Bills 2 and 3, which seek to enshrine early and no-excuse absentee voting rights in the state constitution.
Senate Bill 2 establishes early voting as a 10-day period, in-person voting for general elections, primary elections, and special elections. Senate Bill 3 amends the current absentee voting standard by removing the requirement for an excuse.
“This is a non-partisan issue. Both absentee and early voting have consistently proven to be secure and effective methods in Delaware, boosting voter turnout and ensuring that more voices are heard in our electoral process,” said Senator Darius Brown. “Delawareans deserve the ability to vote without undue hardship, whether through in-person early voting or secure and accessible no-excuse absentee voting.”
The 2024 election cycle saw record numbers of early and absentee voting by Democrat, Republican, third party, and unaffiliated voters. In the most recent General Election, statewide data from the Delaware Department of Elections showed little difference in the proportion of early, absentee, and election day voting exercised by Democrats and Republicans comparatively.
Both Senate Bills 2 and 3 received overwhelming public support during public comment in committee. One constituent, Samantha Maloney-Gracie, reached out with the following testimony about the importance of absentee voting:
“I am 52 years old, and I have chronic spine issues – Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus,” said Samantha Maloney-Gracie. “I never know what a day might bring for me, but I know for certain that I don’t want to miss voting. I might feel fine one day, and be hospitalized the next, so I can’t plan on feeling well enough to vote early. Guaranteed absentee voting ensures that I, and others contending with unpredictable chronic illness, can exercise our constitutional rights regardless of the state of our condition.”
As constitutional amendments, both Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3 require a two thirds majority in both chambers in consecutive General Assemblies to pass.
“Our democracy works best when every eligible voter is given the chance to have their voice heard,” said Representative Bill Bush, the House Prime Sponsor of Senate Bills 2 and 3. “If we want our legislative body to truly reflect the will of Delawareans, we need to give them a greater chance to cast their vote, and Senate Bills 2 and 3 will help us achieve that. I’m grateful to Senator Brown and my colleagues in the Senate for advancing these bills and look forward to passing them in the House.”
The bills will be assigned to a House committee upon their passage from the Senate.
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