Released: April 12, 2024
Mail/absentee ballots must be requested by April 16 at 5:00 p.m.
Delaware County Elections reminds voters that completed mail/absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 to be eligible to be counted. Voters can return their ballot by mail or to any of the more than three dozen ballot drop boxes, or in person at the Delaware County Voter Service Center in Media.
However, Delaware County voters who expect to return their mail/absentee ballot during the last week before Election Day—between April 17 and the April 23—are strongly encouraged to avoid using USPS and instead return their ballot using a ballot drop box or the Voter Service Center to ensure the County receives their ballot by the 8:00 p.m. deadline. Postmarks will not be considered; ballots must be received by the deadline or will be ineligible.
Ballot Drop Boxes are Open
Delaware County offers more than three dozen ballot drop boxes in municipalities across the county. Most drop box sites are open 24/7. The list of sites and hours is available at DelcoPA.Gov/DropBox .
As a reminder, voters must only return their own ballot. The only exception is to assist a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter, which requires a declaration form (available on the Delco Votes! website) signed by the voter and by the person returning the ballot.
The ballots must be placed in the yellow secrecy envelope, and then place that sealed yellow secrecy envelope into the return envelope, which must be (1) signed by the voter, (2) dated by the voter with today’s date, and (3) sealed before being returned through the mail or at a county drop box. Mail/absentee ballots must be received by the county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, April 23.
Status of Returned Mail/Absentee Ballots
Voters may verify the status of mail/absentee ballots they have already returned at the PA Department of State website at Vote.PA.Gov/MailBallotStatus
Call or visit Voter Service Center if ballot not yet received
Voters who requested a mail/absentee ballot on or before April 5 should have received their ballot by April 11. If not, call our hotline at (610) 891-VOTE (8683) or visit the Voter Service Center in Media: Mon., Tue., Thur., Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. / Wed., 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. / Sat., 9:00 a.m.–Noon. Voters who visit the Voter Service Center may apply for, receive, vote and return their ballot during the same visit.
April 16 Deadline to Apply
April 16 is the deadline to apply for a mail/absentee ballot for the upcoming Primary. Applications must include valid ID. To apply for a mail/absentee ballot, registered Delaware County voters may visit the Pennsylvania Department of State website at Vote.PA.Gov/MailBallot and click the “Apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot” button. Voters in Delaware County can also apply in-person at the Voter Service Center.
In Observation of Passover
Pennsylvania’s Primary Election coincides with the first full day of Passover. Registered Delaware County voters who wish to observe Passover and still participate in the April 23, 2024 Primary Election may apply for a mail/absentee ballot at Vote.PA.Gov/MailBallot .