Automatic voter registration to begin for certain Delaware DMV customers

DELAWARE – If you’re not already registered to vote in Delaware, it might happen automatically the next time you go to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The Delaware Department of Elections (DOE) is implementing automatic voter registration for certain DMV customers.

Starting Wednesday, June 21st, everyone who completes certain in-person or online applications, and is not already registered to vote, will be automatically registered on their next DMV trip. Those applications include driver license, learners permit, or identification card, name and address changes. The DOE will verify customers meet age and citizenship requirements before they register new voters.

“This new process, automatic voter registration, is for first-time voter registrants only. So, it’s only for those who are not yet registered to vote in the state of Delaware,” said DOE Community Relations Officer, Cathleen Hartsky-Carter. “The process is going to be absolutely seamless.”

Once the automatic registration happens, new voters will be marked as unaffiliated. Those individuals will then get a form in the mail, asking them if they want to opt out of their automatic registration. And, on primary day, those who were automatically registered are able to pick their party affiliation at the polls, and vote the same day.

“With this transfer of data, it catches everybody. So, everybody is going to receive their notice in the mail,” said Hartsky-Carter. “Since it does catch everybody, there’s less likelihood that someone is not on the rolls. In that respect, I think it’ll help people.”

For more information about automatic voter registration, click here. You can also contact the DOE by calling 302-739-4277.