DELAWARE- A new bill introduced in Delaware would require voters to present photographic identification before casting a ballot in state elections.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Shupe (R-Milford), Sen. Bryant Richardson (R-Laurel), and Rep. Lyndon Yearick (R-Camden), aims to address concerns over the accuracy of Delaware’s voter rolls and the integrity of the election process.
According to the bill's sponsors, nearly 20,000 vote-by-mail applications were returned as undeliverable during the 2020 election cycle. Lawmakers had passed legislation that year requiring applications to be proactively mailed to all registered voters.
The proposed law would require voters to show a valid Delaware driver’s license, a state-issued nondriver ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID before voting. To ensure accessibility, the bill calls for the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a free nondriver ID card to individuals obtaining one for the first time for voting purposes. The cost for future ID cards would be reduced from $40 to $20.
To further expand access, the Department of Elections in each county would be required to host at least two countywide programs each year, using mobile voter registration units to help residents obtain IDs and update their information.
Supporters of the bill say it's designed to help ensure that only eligible individuals are registered and that voter records remain accurate. Critics of voter ID laws in general argue such measures can create barriers to voting, especially for elderly, low-income and minority populations.
The bill has been assigned to the House Elections and Government Affairs Committee for consideration.