Federal monitors to watch Delaware polls on Nov. 3

Delaware voters will cast ballots on November 3 under a coordinated state and federal oversight framework that includes new legal guidance for law enforcement and a joint information center. Attorney General Kathy Jennings, Governor Matt Meyer, and State Election Commissioner Anthony Albence issued a joint reminder of voter rights, emphasizing that the state is preparing for a secure and accessible process.

The state government has been preparing for the 2026 election under Governor Meyer’s Election Security Task Force. This group includes the Department of Elections, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department of Technology and Information, the Emergency Management Agency, and the National Guard. Officials stated that these agencies have conducted drills for potential disruptions before, during, and after the vote. The Department of Justice and the Department of Elections have also trained poll workers and will staff a voter hotline at (302) 739-4277.

The Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust has provided written guidance to local law enforcement. This document lists specific offenses under Title 11 and Title 15, including voter intimidation, fraudulent voting, and illegal electioneering. Investigators are deployed statewide to serve as fact witnesses. The Department of Impact Litigation is prepared to file emergency lawsuits if election interference occurs. A statewide Elections Joint Information Center will operate from 6 a.m. on November 3 to 1 a.m. on November 4 to handle media and public inquiries.

Federal election monitors from the U.S. Department of Justice will be present in Delaware on Election Day. State officials described this presence as normal under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Monitors will observe voting and may interview voters outside polling places, but they cannot compel participation. State law bars monitors from entering polling locations without an escort. They will not be armed, and armed federal law enforcement agents are prohibited from being inside or near polling places pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 592.

Voters retain specific procedural rights on November 3. Individuals in line when polls close at 8 p.m. are entitled to vote. Those who make mistakes on their ballots can request new ones, and if voting machines fail, voters can ask for paper ballots. People whose names are missing from poll books can vote provisionally and will receive written notice regarding the count. Voters with disabilities are entitled to at least one accessible machine and may bring up to two assistants into the voting booth. If a voter needs help in the booth, two officers from different parties must assist simultaneously.

Campaign staff may contact voters by phone or in person, but they must stay at least 50 feet from polling place entrances. Advocacy for candidates or partisan issues within that zone constitutes illegal electioneering. However, voters may wear shirts with slogans for non-partisan issues. If voters perceive a safety threat, they should call 911. For other issues, the state hotline remains the primary point of contact. The state aims to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot without obstruction.

The state has coordinated its response to ensure consistent communication across all agencies. Legal counsel from the Department of Justice will be on call to advise election workers. The Joint Information Center will provide updates to the public and media throughout the day and into the early hours of November 4. This structure is designed to address potential delays in counting and to clarify the roles of federal and state personnel.