Why Should Delaware Care?
With a vast array of government offices up for grabs throughout Delaware in September’s primary elections, the deadline to change your political party affiliation in order to vote in those races is Friday. Under Delaware’s closed party primary system, voters can only participate in their own party’s primary election.
Delaware’s primary elections are still months away, but the window for registered voters to ensure they can participate is quickly closing.
Delaware operates under a closed primary election system, meaning voters must be registered with either the Democratic or Republican party to vote in their respective primary elections.
And while the primaries will not be held until Sept. 15, the deadline for voters to change their party affiliation in time to participate in those elections closes this Friday, May 29.
While Delawareans are subject to the state’s closed primary rules for this year’s September primary elections, a bill awaiting consideration in the General Assembly hopes to change that.
Introduced by Rep. Mike Smith (R-Pike Creek), House Bill 188 would change the state’s primaries to an partially open system. This would allow unaffiliated voters to participate in political party’s primary election, but would not allow cross-over votes between parties. Eighteen states currently use some form of open primaries for their elections.
Smith argues the current closed system disenfranchises the 33% of registered voters in Delaware who are not affiliated with either Democrats or Republicans — a population that currently outnumbers registered Republicans. This is particularly significant considering the number of elections for seats in the State Senate and House of Representatives are only contested – or truly competitive – during the primaries.
The bill has already been released from committee, meaning it is eligible to be brought to the floor by House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown (D-Delaware City) when legislators return from their Joint Finance Committee break on June 9.
Smith said he intends to push the matter when the House reconvenes. But if HB 188 does not pass through both the House and the Senate before the end of this year’s legislative session on June 30, it will be dead in the water.
It is unclear if Minor-Brown intends to bring the measure forward, but she previously has opposed the proposal. In 2024, while chair of the House Administration Committee, she voted with Democratic colleagues against a similar bill introduced by Smith, which failed to advance out of the committee.
If the bill does not pass before the end of June, Smith would need to formally reintroduce the legislation in 2027 in order for it to be considered again. And that is exactly what the lawmaker said he intends to do.
“I have asked the Speaker for it to be brought to the floor when we get back from the break,” Smith said. “If it does not pass or is not heard, I will be reintroducing it next year. Voters want this.”
How can Delawareans vote in the September primaries?
Primaries for the Republican and Democratic parties will be held on Sept. 15, 2026.
This year voters are likely to see a busy ballot, as a slew of races across both major political parties already are contested.
Those interested in changing their political party affiliation can do so online or through the Department of Elections, either with an online application, in-person, or via mail.
Voters can also check their registration status through the department’s website.
Voters who have been registered by the state’s Automatic Voter Registration process through the Department of Motor Vehicles, introduced in 2021, must choose to affiliate with either the Democratic or Republican parties to participate in either of those primaries later this year.
The May 29 deadline does not apply to people registered through AVR who have not chosen their political affiliation yet. Voters registered automatically through the DMV who wish to change their party affiliation can do so via the aforementioned methods, or by filling out a voter registration form at an early voting site or at their polling location on Election Day.
The overall deadline to register to vote in September’s statewide primary elections is Aug. 22, 2026.
Make your voice heard on legislative issues in Dover this year. Click the button below to find your representative or senator and let them know your opinion on proposed legislation.
Correction: This story originally reported that HB 188 would allow fully open primary elections, but that is not accurate. It would allow unaffiliated voters to participate, but would not allow cross-over votes.
