CHAPTER 388
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 395
AS AMENDED BY
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1 AND SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
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 Section 7554, Title 15 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 7554. Voter eligibility.
(a) Voter eligibility shall be as specified within the town charter; provided however, that in no event shall a municipality impose a durational residency requirement in excess of 30 days.
(b) A municipality that uses the State's Voter Registration System as the source of its list of registered voters must enter into a written agreement with the Department of Elections that specifies the responsibilities of each party registering voters, maintaining voter records and providing Election Day support. The deadline for voter registration shall be no more than 30 days prior to any scheduled municipal election, and timeliness shall be determined in accordance with § 2036(1) and (2) of this title.
(c) A municipality that maintains its own voter registration system shall publish and post a schedule of when eligible citizens may register to vote. The deadline for voter registration shall be no more than 30 days prior to any scheduled municipal election, and timeliness shall be determined in accordance with § 2036(1) and (2) of this title. The municipality shall provide eligible citizens a reasonable opportunity to register to vote.
Section 2. As of the effective date of this Act, any municipality whose charter requires voters to register more than 30 days before a scheduled municipal election shall be deemed to have a voter registration deadline 30 days before any scheduled elections.
Section 3. This Act shall be effective January 1, 2017.
Approved August 10, 2016