2021 Municipal Election In Delaware County: What To Know

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Officials in Delaware County are gearing up for the municipal election on Nov. 2. So here's what voters in Delco need to know.

Dates

The deadline to register to vote for the first time, or file a name or address update, is Monday, Oct. 18.

The deadline for voters to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 26. Election Day itself is Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Finally, the last day for the county to receive Military and Overseas Absentee Ballots is Tuesday, Nov. 9. Get details on these ballots here.

>>>Find your polling place here<<<

Vote-by-Mail Ballots

With one month to go before the 2021 Municipal Election, Delaware County Elections is now set to mail more than 30,000 requested vote-by-mail ballots to voters. Delivery of vote-by-mail ballots is expected by no later than Oct. 15. Our Ballot Drop Boxes will be operational and accepting vote-by-mail ballots shortly after ballots are mailed out to voters.

Vote-by-Mail ballots are sent only to those voters who completed an application to vote-by-mail during the 2021 calendar year.

Voters who voted in the 2020 General Election will not automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot for this election.

Voters who have not yet applied and who want to vote by mail must apply — online, by mail, or in-person — so that the application is received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 26.

Once a vote-by-mail ballot has been received, voters may return their completed vote-by-mail ballot envelope at any of 40-plus secured Delaware County ballot drop boxes, in-person at the Voter Service Center, or through the mail. Mailed ballots are postage paid for those returning the envelope through the USPS.

As a reminder, the return of a ballot by anyone other than the voter is prohibited unless the person returning the ballot is rendering assistance to a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter and completes the necessary affidavit.

Registered voters who have not yet applied for their vote-by-mail ballot can visit our Voter Service Center in-person and request, receive, complete, and return a vote-by-mail ballot in a single trip.

>>>See Delawre County's ballot drop box locations here<<<

Two Ballots

Delaware County voters will encounter something new this election cycle: two separate paper ballots.

Under the state Constitution, judicial retention questions must be listed on a separate ballot. The ballots will be marked with a large "A" in the upper right corner for state and local contests, and "B" in the upper right corner for judicial-retention questions.

Precincts will receive the ballots in "A/B" order and will instruct voters on how to feed the "A" and "B" ballots into the scanner, one at a time.

>>>See Delaware County's sample ballots here<<<

COVID-19 Precautions

Delaware County Elections will again equip poll workers and polling places so that voters may participate safely.

Each polling location will receive PPE, including masks, gloves, single-use pens, and sanitation kits.

Poll workers will be required to wear masks to protect voters and other poll workers.

All voters who choose to vote in-person are encouraged to wear face masks and practice social distancing in their polling place.

Voter Service Center

Delaware County Elections maintains a year-round Voter Service Center at the Government Center Building at 201 W. Front St. in Media. It is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2.

The Voter Service Center will have limited evening and Saturday hours closer to Election Day.

Services at the center are: Voter registration for new voters and those who need to file an address or name change; mail-in and absentee ballots applications and on-site processing; 3rd party ballot-return applications, polling place confirmation, vote-by-mail status verification, replacement ballots for voters who did not receive their ballot, lost their ballot, mismarked their ballot, or received a damaged ballot; and answers to election-related questions.

The November 2021 Municipal Election includes a large number of impactful judicial, county, municipal and other local contests, including Mayors, Constables, Auditors, Tax Collectors, Commissioners, Borough and County Council members, School Directors from several School Districts, Election Board members, and several judicial retention questions.

Voters in the PA House of Representatives 164th District will also cast their vote as part of a concurrent Special Election that will determine their future State Representative.

Voters with questions about voter registration, vote-by-mail ballots, the locations of ballot drop boxes, election security, and other election issues may contact the Election Hotline by phone at 610-891-8683 or by email at DelcoElection@co.delaware.pa.us or visit the Delco Votes! website here.