Election & Voter Information
2026 Election:
All property owners and/or residents must register to vote with the Town of Fenwick Island in order to be eligible to vote in Town elections.
To register, complete the Voter Registration Form and submit it with the necessary proof of identity.
Voter Qualification Information:
1 Resident: Every natural person, who is a citizen of the United States, age 18 on or before the date of the election, a bona fide resident prior to the annual municipal election, and registered to vote 30 or more days prior to the annual municipal election, if provided by ordinance, shall have one vote.
2 Non-residents: Every property owner as of March 1 prior to the annual municipal election, whether a natural person or artificial entity, including but not limited to corporations, partnerships, trusts, and limited liability companies, and who is registered to vote, if provided by ordinance, shall have one vote. A natural person shall be a citizen of the United States and age 18 on or before the date of the election. An artificial entity shall be a domestic entity in the State of Delaware.
3 These provisions shall be construed in accordance with the principle of “one-person/entity, one vote.” Where a voter is entitled to vote by virtue of being both a resident and as an owner of real property, that voter shall be entitled to only one vote; where a voter is entitled to vote by ownership of two or more parcels of real property, that voter shall be entitled to only one vote.
Who Must Vote by Special Power of Attorney
Any property owned by an artificial entity—such as a trust, LLC, partnership, or corporation—must cast its vote by a duly executed and notarized Special Power of Attorney.
This form grants authority to a designated individual (called the attorney-in-fact) to vote on behalf of the entity.
The executed and notarized form must be filed with the Town, and it will serve as conclusive evidence of that person’s right to vote for the entity.
The individual casting the ballot on behalf of the entity must:
-
Be 18 years of age or older on or before the date of the election,
-
Be a registered voter with the Town of Fenwick Island, and
-
Be a citizen of the United States.
How to Complete and Submit the Form
-
Print the Form
Print Special Power of Attorney Form Here to be Notarized
Download and print the Special Power of Attorney Form using the link above. -
Complete and Notarize
Fill out all sections completely and accurately.
The form must be signed by an authorized representative of the entity and notarized.
Ensure both the signature and notary seal are clearly visible. -
Upload and Submit
Once the form has been notarized, upload it using the link below.
Submit Special Power of Attorney Form Here
After uploading, click Submit.
Questions? Contact Town Hall at 302-539-3011 or email townclerk@fenwickisland.org.
Absentee Ballots:
Who may vote by absentee ballot?
- Any person qualified by provision of Town of Fenwick Island Charter for reasons authorized by Charter and who meets the following qualification:
- In public service to U.S. or Delaware
- A U.S. citizen temporarily residing outside the U.S.
- Or who is a spouse or dependent of citizen(when residing with/accompanying individual in service)
- Absent from U.S. or Delaware due to injury received while serving in Armed Forces
- Person in U.S. Armed Forces/Merchant Marines or associated groups (e.g. Red Cross, USO)
- Nature of work
- Includes providing care to parent/spouse/child (living at home)
- Sick or physically disabled
- Absent from municipality on vacation
- Due to tenets or teachings of religion
Absentee Request Form
Absentee ballot request forms for the 2026 election will be made available and accepted by the Town Clerk beginning July 1, 2026.
- Identification is required with submission of Absentee Application
- May be requested no later than 12 Noon the day before the election
- May be mailed or completed in person
- Must be received by the Town at the close of the polls on election day
Basic Absentee Procedures
Following Absentee Request Completion/Return
- Town confirms voter eligibility
- Town mails voter:
- Absentee ballot
- Instructions for Completing and Returning an Absentee Ballot
- Ballot Envelope
- The Town offers an outside ballot drop box for dropping off ballots at any time
- The ballot box is securely located at Fenwick Island Police Station where it is camera monitored 24/7
- This location is handicapped accessible and on a covered porch for your convenience
Absentee Voter Procedures:
- Voter marks ballot and inserts in Ballot Envelope
- Voter confirms that info on Ballot Envelope is correct
- Voter reads and signs self-administered oath
- Voter seals ballot envelope
- Voter mails, delivers, or causes Ballot Envelope to be delivered* to municipality
- Ballot must be received by time polls close
- Ballots received after time polls close shall NOT be counted
*”causes…to be delivered” (e.g., via Express Mail, FedEx, etc.)
Candidate Information:
Criteria to Run for an Elected Office
In order to be eligible to run for an elected office in the Town of Fenwick Island, applicants must meet the following criteria:
-
Be registered to vote in the Town of Fenwick Island for at least one year prior to the election for which you seek to be nominated
-
Be a natural person who is a citizen of the United States
-
Be at least 21 years of age on or before the date of the election
-
Be either a bona fide resident of the Town or a property owner in the Town
-
Not have been convicted of a felony
Candidate Filing Deadline
The deadline to file to run for office is June 18, 2026 at 4:30 PM EST.
A Notice of Candidates will be posted at Town Hall.
Candidate Forms Required by the Town
The Town requires that all candidates complete and submit the following:
-
Candidate Filing Form
-
Certificate of Intention Form (after submission to the State)
How to File as a Candidate
-
Print the Candidate Filing Form
Candidate Filing Form
Download and print the Candidate Filing Form using the link above. -
Complete and Notarize the Form
Fill out the form completely and accurately.
The form must be signed by the candidate and notarized before submission.
Ensure the signature and notary seal are clearly visible. -
Upload and Submit
Once the form has been notarized, upload it using the link below.
Submit Candidate Filing Form Here
After uploading, click Submit.
Candidate Form Required by the State
In addition to the above, all petitioners must complete the required State of Delaware Certificate of Intention form at https://cfrs.elections.delaware.gov/.
This form must then be printed, signed, given to the Fenwick Island Town Clerk and mailed to:
Office of the State Election Commissioner
Attention: Campaign Finance
905 S. Governors Avenue, Suite 170
Dover, DE 19904
Questions? Contact Town Hall at 302-539-3011 or townclerk@fenwickisland.org for assistance.
Not later than 60 days prior to the election, the Mayor shall appoint, with the concurrence of the Town Council, a Board of Elections consisting of an inspector and two judges who shall be qualified voters in the Town and who shall not be an elected official or an immediate family member of an elected official. The term of the Board of Elections shall be one year.
2025 Board of Elections Members
Liz Lear
Lisa Benn
Ben Waide
Alternates 1 & 2:
Anne Hodges
Geri Verlaque
