Bill Text: DE HB320 | 2023-2024 | 152nd General Assembly | Draft

Delaware House Bill 320

Draft

Bill Title: An Act Proposing An Amendment To Article V, § 1 Of The Delaware Constitution Relating To Early In-person Voting.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 9-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-05 - Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House [HB320 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2023-HB320-Draft.html

SPONSOR:	Rep. Yearick & Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Hocker & Sen. Pettyjohn
Reps. Gray, Hilovsky, Matthews, Ramone, D. Short; Sen. Buckson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 320

AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V, § 1 OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Article V, § 1 of the Delaware Constitution by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underlines as follows:

§ 1. Time and manner of holding general election.

Section 1. The In -person voting for the general election shall be held biennially on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November, and 10 calendar days before the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November, and shall be by ballot; but the General Assembly may by law prescribe the means, methods and instruments of voting so as best to secure secrecy and the independence of the voter, preserve the freedom and purity of elections and prevent fraud, corruption and intimidation thereat.

In-person early voting shall be held in at least 21 polling place locations to be equitably located with 1 location being in each State Senate District.

All administrative or procedural laws, rules, policies, or regulations applicable to safeguarding the security of in-person voting applicable to the general election shall be applicable to in-person early voting days.

SYNOPSIS

This is the first leg of a Constitutional Amendment to constitutionally authorize 10 days of early in-person voting in Delaware. Additionally, at least 21 in-person early voting places, with 1 being located in each State Senate District, are required. Further, this Constitutional Amendment requires all administrative or procedural laws, rules, policies, or regulations applicable to safeguarding the security of in-person voting that apply to the general election shall be applicable to in-person early voting days.