# Delaware SB 266: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIONS. Delaware SB 266, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIONS., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Daniel Cruce (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-24 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB266-153 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Delaware SB 266 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIONS. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-04-02 - Last action: 2026-06-24, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 7 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (61 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Absentee voters can fix envelope problems: benefit, medium. The Department must identify each returned absentee envelope, keep it secure, and mark any deficiency with its reason. Officials cannot open or alter envelopes outside the allowed handling process, except to mark deficiencies. If your ballot lacks the required signed oath or sealed envelope, the De… - Absentee counting rules protect clear choices: benefit, low. Election judges review absentee ballots when a scanner cannot determine the voter's intent. An unclear choice or overvote affects only that office or question, not other countable choices. Write-in spelling variations count when they clearly identify a declared candidate; a unique last name can als… - Absentee processing gets secure storage rules: benefit, low. Officials must secure absentee ballots in containers and locked cabinets during processing breaks and at each day's end. After processing, judges must seal containers and sign to confirm their contents and sealing. Each container holds ballots from only one election district and stays secure until… - Delaware election results face public audits: benefit, low. State and county elections require a random machine audit in each relevant county within 48 hours after results are certified. An additional Wilmington machine audit applies when the election includes a district with area in the city. Within 60 days, officials must audit all votes in a random distr… - Delaware sets regular voting software checks: benefit, low. The State Election Commissioner must choose voting software and its version by July 1 of each odd-numbered year. Machines must use that software for elections starting September 1 that year, until the next designation takes effect. The software must be used in at least 2 other U.S. jurisdictions an… - Polling places get machine supply safeguards: benefit, low. General elections require at least 1 voting machine per 650 registered voters assigned to a polling place. Primary and special elections require at least 1 per 800; a majority fraction of either ratio also counts. Anyone holding a voting machine must protect it, including during delivery and storag… - Voting equipment gets public accuracy checks: benefit, low. The Department must test every voting system, including absentee systems, within 10 days before an election. Machine checks must confirm required software and compare sample vote totals with hand-counted paper ballots. At least 2 certifiers with different registered party affiliations must check ma… - Voting machines must protect private votes: benefit, low. Every election under Delaware's election code must use an electronic voting system meeting the law's standards. Machines must keep choices private, except when someone needs to assist a voter. They must support all required ballot choices, count accurately, handle write-ins, and prevent overvotes a… - Candidates must swear to home addresses: cost, low. Delaware candidates must give the State Election Commissioner a notarized statement verifying their primary home address. They must sign under penalty of perjury. The address must follow the law's residence rules. - Parties lose specific machine inspection access: cost, low. The law removes the requirement to mail party chairs the time and place of voting-machine inspections. It also removes their stated authority to name a representative to attend those inspections. Separate public testing notice requirements remain. - Voting machine suppliers must guarantee performance: cost, low. Before a voting system is acquired or used, its owner or manufacturer must provide a written guarantee and post a bond. The guarantee must cover compliance with the machine standards. It must also cover defects in labor and materials for 5 years after the Department receives the machines. Rented ma… - Clearer home address rules for voters: mixed, low. Voting residence depends on where you physically live and your intent to stay or return, including nontraditional living spaces. Temporary absences for school, military service, incarceration, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or medical care do not alone end residence. Getting a second home does not alone… - Paper records count; second ballots barred: mixed, low. Your machine vote becomes legal when you complete the steps to cast it. The paper ballot showing your choices is the official record. Each machine delivered to a polling place must produce at least 2 paper-tape copies showing candidate and ballot-question totals. After casting a ballot on a voting… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Stephanie T. Bolden (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mara Gorman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Eric Morrison (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: David P. Sokola (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-18 | House | Passed (3/4 required) | pass | 41 | 0 | | | 2026-04-21 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 20 | 0 | | ## Actions (7) - 2026-06-24: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES (House) - 2026-05-13: Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in House with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-04-22: Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in House (House) - 2026-04-21: Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-04-15: Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2026-04-02: Introduced and Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-02: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143031&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related bills - HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house) - HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed) - SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed) - SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed) - HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed) - HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed) ## Sources - [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143031&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related - [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153) - [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153) - [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153) - [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153) - [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153) - [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153) - [Delaware bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware/bills) - [Delaware state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB266-153 (as of 2026-10-12).