HB 183 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RESIDENCY.

A copy of any currently valid Delaware motor vehicle registration in the candidate’s name showing the candidate’s address.

b.

A copy of a current valid Delaware drivers license in the candidate’s name showing the candidate’s address.

c.

If the residential address on either the drivers license or the motor vehicle registration is different from the candidate’s primary residential address, the candidate must provide documentation from the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles that the drivers license or motor vehicle registration is in the process of being changed to the candidate’s primary residential address.

d.

If a candidate does not own a motor vehicle or does not have a currently valid Delaware drivers license, the candidate must submit any other State of Delaware issued identification showing the address on the identification is consistent with the address of the candidate’s primary residence.

e.

If the candidate has no documentation required under this paragraph, the candidate must submit a utility bill in the candidate’s name showing the candidate’s address.

(b).1.

Failure to provide the documents required by this section on or before the deadline to file a notice of candidacy will disqualify a candidate from meeting the residency requirement to be a candidate.

2.

Willfully submitting false, forged, or altered documents;

or coercing, or unduly influencing persons providing affidavit documents will, in addition to any other legal remedy available for such fraudulent act, disqualify a candidate from being a candidate.

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The Commissioner shall, within 7 calendar days from the filing of a notice of candidacy and submission of documents, review and verify all documents submitted under this section to confirm the candidate’s primary residential address and that the address is located in the area the candidate seeks to represent.

The Commissioner shall advise the candidate in writing of the results of this review.

2.

If the Commissioner determines that there are deficiencies in the documents or that there are missing documents, he shall advise the candidate in writing what the deficiencies are or what documents are missing.

The candidate will have until the closing date for filing a notice of candidacy or 7 calendar days from the Commissioner’s letter, whichever is later, to cure the deficiencies or submit missing documents.

3.

If the candidate fails to cure the deficiencies or submit the missing documents within the time limits of this section, the Commissioner will provide a letter to the candidate advising him or her of the failure to meet the requirements of this section and their ineligibility to be a candidate.

4.

If the candidate cures the deficiencies and submits any missing documents, the Commissioner shall advise the candidate in writing that the requirements of this section have been met.

(d).

An incumbent elected official who wants to be a candidate for reelection and who has not relocated to a new primary residence after previously complying with this section, may comply with this section by providing a copy of their current Delaware drivers license or Delaware identification card and an affidavit stating they have not relocated and all previously supplied documents and information remain true and correct.

(e).

For the purposes of this section:

1.

“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Elections.

2.

“Primary residence” or “primary residential address” means the candidate resides at that address at least 183 calendar days in the year prior to filing their notice of candidacy.

§ 3115.

Elected official, primary residency.

(a) An elected official is required to reside in a primary residence located in the district they represent during their entire term of office.

(b) If an elected official relocated to a new primary residential address in the district they represent, they must, within 60 days of relocating, advise the Commissioner of Elections of the new address and provide the documents required by § 3114 of this chapter.

(c) Failure to provide the documents required by this section shall subject the elected official to a civil penalty of $100.

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or coercing or unduly influencing persons providing affidavit documents will be an act of fraud.

§ 3116.

Fraud prosecution.

Any allegation of fraud relating to a candidate or an elected official’s primary residence shall be submitted to the Attorney General for investigation and possible prosecution.

SYNOPSIS This Act creates a process for the Commissioner of Elections to determine if a candidate or an incumbent elected official for a State or county elected office are residents of the district or area they represent or seek to represent.

This Act does not apply to municipalities.

The purpose of this Act is to require all candidates for State or county elected offices and incumbent elected officials to have their primary residential address in the area or district they represent or seek to represent.

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