Delaware house passes early voting bill, heads to the senate

GEORGETOWN, Del. – It’s a bill that could change the game for election season. Allowing voters in Delaware to cast their ballots early.  And as this piece of legislation moves out of the house and onto the senate floor, any are hopeful that it will finally get the green light.

“The average American works, the average American has a life,”said business owner Ismael Blanchard.

For years, Delaware residents have only had just one day to cast their votes during elections. Leaving almost little to no flexibility for voters to take part on election day and have their voice be heard.

“There are some days that I do work 12 or 14 hours and I wouldn’t have a chance to get to the polls if it were only for one day Or I have to lose money just to be able to get to the polls,” said local business owner Talesha Blanchard.

But House Bill 38, known as the early voting bill, could change all of that. Giving residents 10 days prior to the election to submit their ballots.

“I would greatly appreciate 10 extra days for me to be able to vote,” said Talesha.

Board of election officials tell us currently if residents can’t make it to the polls in time to vote. They’d have to send in absentee ballots. Which officials say is often a stressful and expensive process.

“The most expensive thing here is paper absentee ballot’s because the bundle them by hand and you mail them out and you get them back and it’s all done by hand and it’s actually very labor-intensive,” said Ken McDowell.

In a 34-6 vote the house approved the bill, and supporters are hoping the senate will do the same. However, some lawmakers aren’t entirely on board and say early voting could cause security issues and voter fraud. But residents we spoke to tell us it’d be a game changer if they had more time to go out and vote.

“It gives you that window of opportunity that you wouldn’t have had normally,” said Talesha.

Now, it’s nothing more than a waiting game at this point for lawmakers to decide the future of this bill. Currently 38 other states already allow early voting.
And if this piece of legislation does pass it would go into effect starting in January of 2022.