Delaware elections, 2012
| Contents |
|---|
| 1 2012 Elections |
| 2 Eligibility to Vote |
| 2.1 Primary election |
| 2.2 General election |
| 3 Voting absentee |
| 3.1 Eligibility |
| 3.2 Deadlines |
| 3.3 Military and overseas voting |
| 4 Voting early |
| 5 See also |
| 6 References |
The state of Delaware held elections in 2012. Below are the dates of note:
- Signature filing deadline: July 10, 2012
- Primary date: September 11, 2012
- General election date: November 6, 2012
| On the 2012 ballot | Click here for all November 6, 2012 Election Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate (1 seat) | 
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Preview Article | |
| U.S. House (9 seats) |
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| State Executives (3 state executive positions) |
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Preview Article | |
| State Senate (21 seats) |
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Preview Article | |
| State House (41 seats) |
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| Ballot measures (0 measures) | 
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N/A | |
2012 Elections
For election results in the 50 states, see our November 6, 2012 election results page
Elections by type
| U.S. Senate, Delaware, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Thomas Carper Incumbent |
66.7% | 252,892 | |
| Republican | Kevin Wade | 28.7% | 108,957 | |
| Green | Andrew Richard Groff | 0.8% | 3,036 | |
| Independent | Alexander Pires | 3.8% | 14,462 | |
| Total Votes | 379,347 | |||
| Source: Delaware Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
| Members of the U.S. House from Delaware -- Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 1 | 1 | |
| Republican Party | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 1 | |
| District | General Election Candidates | Incumbent | 2012 Winner | Partisan Switch? |
| At-large |  John Carney Tom Kovach Scott Gesty Bernard August |
John Carney | John Carney | No |
Three state executive positions were up for election.
| Governor of Delaware General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Jack Markell Incumbent |
69.3% | 275,993 | |
| Republican | Jeff Cragg | 28.6% | 113,793 | |
| Libertarian | Jesse McVay | 0.9% | 3,668 | |
| Green | Mark Joseph Perri | 1.1% | 4,575 | |
| Total Votes | 398,029 | |||
| Election Results via Delaware Board of Elections. | ||||
| Lieutenant Governor of Delaware General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Matthew Denn Incumbent |
61.6% | 238,959 | |
| Republican | Sher Valenzuela | 37.1% | 143,978 | |
| Libertarian | Margie Waite-McKeown | 1.3% | 5,206 | |
| Total Votes | 388,143 | |||
| Election Results via Delaware State Board of Elections. | ||||
| Delaware Insurance Commissioner General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Karen Weldin Stewart Incumbent |
61.1% | 233,354 | |
| Republican | Benjamin Mobley | 36.8% | 140,669 | |
| Libertarian | David R. Eisenhour | 2.1% | 7,838 | |
| Total Votes | 381,861 | |||
| Election Results via Delaware State Board of Elections. | ||||
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2012
Heading into the election, Democrats maintain partisan control in the state senate.
| Delaware State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 14 | 13 | |
| Republican Party | 7 | 8 | |
| Total | 21 | 21 | |
Heading into the election, Democrats maintain partisan control in the state house.
| Delaware House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 26 | 27 | |
| Republican Party | 15 | 14 | |
| Total | 41 | 41 | |
Eligibility to Vote
Primary election
- See also: Voting in the 2012 primary elections
Delaware is one of 21 states to use a strictly closed primary system. Voters were required to register to vote in the primary by August 18, 2012, which was 24 days before the primary took place .[1] (Information about registering to vote)
General election
- See also: Voting in the 2012 general elections
The deadline to register to vote is 24 days prior to the election day, which in 2012 was October 13.[2]
- Voter ID info
- Residency requirements: Resident (proof required)[3]
- Same-day registration: None
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee Voting
Eligibility
You are eligible to vote absentee in an election if you cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:
- Work: The nature of your work prevents you from going to your polling place.
- Public Service: Your service to the United States or to the State of Delaware prevents you from going to your polling place. Spouses or dependents of the person in service also qualify. (Public service includes military, diplomatic, etc.)
- New: Affidavits from military personnel requesting absentee ballots do not require the signature of a Notary or Commissioned Officer.
- Religion: The tenets or teaching of your religion prevent you from going to your polling place.
- Vacation: You are on vacation on election day.
- Illness: you are sick.
- Disability: you are permanently or temporarily disabled.
- Incarcerated: you are incarcerated (not for a felony).
Deadlines
To vote absentee a request must be by the Friday prior to the election. The ballot must then be returned and received by elections officials by 8pm on election day.
Military and overseas voting
For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
Delaware is one of 8 states which allow early voting but require an excuse to vote early. Early voting is offered in the form of absentee in-person voting and is available as soon as absentee ballots are made available up until noon on election day.
To vote early you need to provide an excuse for why you will be unable to vote at the polls during normal voting hours. The following are valid reasons:
- The nature of your work or schooling prevents you from going to your polling place.
- Your service to the United States or to the State of Delaware prevents you from going to your polling place. Spouses or dependents of the person in service also qualify. (Public service includes military, diplomatic, etc.)
- The tenets or teaching of your religion prevent you from going to your polling place on election day.
- You are on vacation on election day.
- You are sick.
- You are permanently or temporarily disabled.
- You are incarcerated (non-felony).
