Delaware County Bureau of Elections Vote-by-Mail Update

Released: April 29, 2021

Delaware County’s Bureau of Elections is completing preparations for the May 18 Municipal Primary Election, including the mailing of more than 30,000 vote-by-mail ballots to voters who applied to vote by mail. These voters may submit their ballot-return envelope through the mail, or at any official secured drop box, or in-person at the Delaware County Voter Service Center in the Government Center located at 201 W. Front St., Media, PA. Return envelopes include postage paid by the County.

Delaware County voters who applied before April 22 will begin receiving their ballots on April 29 and over the following days. Registered voters who want to check if they requested a vote-by-mail ballot, or wish to submit an application, can visit the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/vote/votebymail.

Applications to vote by mail must be received by the Bureau of Elections by close of business Tuesday, May 11. The deadline to cast a vote-by-mail ballot is 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 18.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the County by 8 p.m. Civilian ballots cast in the United States received after 8 p.m. on Election Day—regardless of postmark—cannot be counted. However, military and overseas voters’ ballots can be received through Tuesday, May 25.

Voters can return vote-by-mail ballots through traditional US mail, through private carriers (such as UPS or FedEx), or at any of 41 secured drop boxes that the County and municipalities installed last year. A list of the drop boxes is included in the mailing and can be found on Delco votes! website at delcopa.gov/dropbox.

Delaware County voters may return vote-by-mail ballot return envelopes at whichever secured drop box is most convenient. All drop boxes are under video surveillance and are monitored 24/7 by Delaware County Park Police.

Voters can also apply for, vote, and submit their vote-by-mail ballot in person at the Delaware County Voter Service Center located at the Government Center in Media, open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Visit the “Delco Votes!” website at delcopa.gov/vsc for more details.

All Delaware County registered voters, regardless of party affiliation are eligible to participate in the May 18 Primary Election. Voters registered with the Democratic Party or Republican Party will qualify for that party’s ballot and referenda questions. Voters not registered with a party will receive a ballot with referenda questions only, including three proposed amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution. All ballots will include the referenda questions on disaster declarations, equal rights, and the ability of volunteer fire and ambulance services to borrow funds. Delaware County sample ballots are available at http://election.co.delaware.pa.us/electionsampleballots/.

Voters with questions can also call our Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE.