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Georgetown holds first reading of absentee-voter ordinance to align local rules with state law
Summary
At its May 27 meeting the Georgetown Town Council opened first reading of Ordinance 2025-05 to amend local absentee voting and voter registration language to conform procedures with Delaware law and the state Department of Elections.
On May 27 the Georgetown Town Council held the first reading of Ordinance 2025-05, which would update the town’s absentee-voting and voter-registration language to align with Delaware law and the state Department of Elections.
“Any qualified voter of the town of Georgetown who shall be unable to appear to cast his or her ballot on the day of the annual municipal election … or any other reason permissible under Delaware law regarding absentee voting, shall be entitled to cast an absentee ballot,” Gene, the meeting presenter, read during the ordinance summary. The ordinance also proposes updates to affidavit and recordkeeping language, including changing the “register of absentee votes” to a “file of absentee votes” and adding entries required by 15 Del. C. §75xx to prevent fraud and allow tracing and detection.
The measure modifies several town code sections cited by the presenter (transcribed as section 139-1; section 39-4; and Section 309-16 on voter registration) and clarifies that the town will continue to use the state Department of Elections rolls while allowing a town resident to establish eligibility locally under charter criteria.
Judson Malone, a Georgetown resident, testified in support. “This is a technical ordinance correcting language … we do need our information about who's voting to be accurate,” he said, and urged the council to favor measures that encourage participation rather than restrict it. Malone also noted potential ambiguities between the town charter and state law and said the ordinance should clarify consistency between them.
The council voted to keep the ordinance open for a second reading and public comment for 14 days.
Why this matters: the ordinance would clarify who may cast an absentee ballot in Georgetown municipal elections, the form of affidavit required, and how absentee ballots are recorded—issues that affect voter access and the town’s election administration.
The council did not adopt the ordinance at first reading; a second reading and adoption will be scheduled after the 14-day comment period.
