Thank Delaware for Protecting Absentee Voters

A Delaware court just rejected a Republican-led effort to gut the state's permanent absentee ballot system, protecting a voting option relied on heavily by overseas voters and people with disabilities.

The Delaware Court of Chancery ruled against a challenge brought by Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker and state senate candidate Steve Washington, who argued the permanent absentee list was unconstitutional. Vice Chancellor Bonnie David disagreed, finding the law simply preserves access for voters who already qualify rather than expanding who's eligible.

The ruling also pushed back on GOP claims that outdated entries on the list, like voters who've since moved or died, made the whole system illegitimate. The court noted that imperfect list maintenance doesn't invalidate the law itself, and that it's the legislature's job, not the courts', to decide who qualifies.

The decision comes amid a broader national push by Republicans to restrict mail voting ahead of the midterms. Delaware's ruling keeps one more door to the ballot box open.

Add your name to thank Delaware's courts for protecting absentee voters and rejecting this attack on the right to vote.