Why wait until November 3, Election Day, to vote at your designated polling place when you can vote early at one of nine locations throughout Sussex County between October 22 and November 1?
Early voting offers flexibility and more opportunities to cast a ballot before Election Day. To help make early voting more accessible, a group of volunteers organized by Rehoboth Beach resident Cheryl Siskin is offering rides to early voting locations throughout Sussex County.
“Voting early is the best way to ensure that your vote is counted and avoids the limitation of only being able to vote at your designated polling place,” Siskin noted.
Ocean View resident Terri Colloton is also a strong supporter of early voting. She points to several practical advantages, including:
- Flexibility: Early voting locations offer extended hours and weekend availability, allowing people to vote around work schedules, medical appointments, travel plans and family responsibilities.
- Peace of mind: Voting early can help people avoid unexpected obstacles on Election Day, including illness, bad weather, transportation difficulties or other emergencies.
Colloton also believes early voting creates more opportunities for people to participate in elections.
“It can make elections more accessible, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities, and those with demanding schedules,” she said.
Sussex County Early Voting Locations
Early voting will be available at the following nine locations:
- Department of Elections Warehouse — Georgetown
542 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947
- Department of Elections Warehouse — Seaford
200 Allen St., Seaford, DE
- Ellendale Fire Hall
302 Main St., Ellendale, DE 19941
- Nassau Valley Vineyards
32130 Winery Road, Lewes, DE
- Indian River Fire Company, Station No. 2
25375 Banks Road, Millsboro, DE 19966
- Laurel Fire Hall
205 W. 10th St., Laurel, DE 19956
- Margaret H. Rollins Community Center
101 Adams Ave., Lewes, DE
- Millville Community Center
32517 Dukes Drive, Millville, DE 19967
- Roxana Fire Hall
35943 Zion Church Road, Frankford, DE
The Nassau Valley Vineyards location replaces the Fairfield Inn on Coastal Highway, which served as an early voting site during the primary election.
General Election Early Voting Dates and Hours
Early voting hours vary by date. Voters should note the schedule carefully, particularly the change in hours beginning October 28.
- Thursday, October 22, through Saturday, October 24: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25: No early voting.
- Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 28, through Sunday, November 1: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Early voting is not available on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, under this schedule.
Rides Available to Early Voting Locations
A group of Sussex County residents has volunteered to provide rides to any Sussex County resident who requests transportation to an early voting location.
Residents who need a ride can sign up online using the “Ride Needed to Vote Early” link.
Alternatively, they can call 934-261-1313 to arrange transportation through the group’s early voting dispatcher.
Those interested in volunteering to drive voters can use the “Sign Up for Rides to the Polls for Early Voting” link.
Editor’s note: Insert the appropriate URLs for both ride sign-up links before publication.
The group will not provide rides on Election Day. On November 3, voters must go to their designated polling place. Voters can find their assigned polling location at Vote411.org.
How Early Voting Has Changed American Elections
Early, in-person voting has transformed the American election process. For much of the country’s history, voting was primarily a one-day, in-person experience, with voters traveling to their local polling places to cast their ballots on Election Day.
According to The Associated Press (AP), approximately 95% of voters cast their ballots in person on Election Day in 1972, based on a census survey from that period. Over the following decades, that proportion declined as states expanded voting options, giving Americans more opportunities to cast their ballots before Election Day.
Early voting and mail-in voting surged in 2020, when more than 70% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many states to temporarily expand mail-in voting options to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus.
Many of the expanded voting options proved popular. By 2022, only about half of the electorate voted at polling places on Election Day, according to the AP.
Although voting before Election Day has become increasingly common, advance voting is not a new concept. Absentee voting and other forms of voting outside the traditional Election Day framework have been part of American elections for generations. According to the AP, Louisiana established a formalized early, in-person voting system in 1921.
For Sussex County residents, early voting offers a convenient alternative to waiting until Election Day—and, for those who need transportation, local volunteers are working to make that option more accessible.
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Resident Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.
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