Voter guide to Delaware’s 2026 primary

Delaware voters preparing for the 2026 primary should start by checking their registration and building a voting plan. The essential questions are when the primary will be held, which registration deadlines apply, what will appear on the voter’s ballot and which voting options will be available.

Key dates to confirm

Put the primary date and every deadline that applies to you on one calendar. Confirm each date directly with Delaware election officials rather than relying on campaign advertising, social media posts or dates remembered from an earlier election.

Dates to check include:

• The deadline to register for the primary.
• The deadline to update a name, home address or other registration information.
• Any deadline involving party registration or a change in party registration.
• The primary voting date and polling hours.
• Deadlines for requesting, receiving or returning any ballot used outside an Election Day polling place, if that option is available to you.

Some steps may need to be completed before voting begins. Checking early gives voters time to correct registration information and ask questions about the process.

What will be on the ballot

A primary ballot lists the contests and choices a voter may consider in that election. Before voting, look for an official sample ballot connected to your registration and home address, if one is published.

Read the full ballot from beginning to end. Make a note of every contest and review the choices before arriving to vote. A sample ballot can also help a voter become familiar with the layout and avoid overlooking a contest.

Confirm whether party registration affects which primary ballot you may receive. Do not assume that another voter, even someone living nearby, will necessarily have the same ballot. Questions about ballot access or registration should be resolved with Delaware election officials before the deadline that applies.

How to prepare your registration

First, check whether your voter registration is active and accurate. Review the spelling of your name, your home address and any party registration listed with your record.

If you are not registered, ask Delaware election officials which registration methods are accepted and when your registration must be completed. If you are already registered but have moved or changed your name, confirm what must be updated before the primary.

Voters should also ask whether a party-registration deadline applies to them. Complete each required step early enough to address a rejected form, missing information or another problem before voting.

Keep any confirmation connected with your registration update. Before the primary, check the record again to make sure the change appears correctly.

Make a voting plan

After confirming which voting options are open to you, choose the method that fits your schedule and circumstances. Write down the location, date, hours and instructions connected with that method.

If you plan to vote at a polling place, confirm the correct location before leaving home. Check what identification or other materials election officials instruct voters to bring. Allow enough time to complete the ballot before voting ends.

If you plan to use another voting method, confirm every step and deadline, including how to request, complete and return a ballot when required. Do not treat a request deadline and a return deadline as the same thing.

Voters who need accessibility assistance or language help should ask election officials what support is available and how to arrange it. Anyone who encounters a registration or ballot problem should seek instructions promptly rather than waiting until the final deadline.