[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Millsboro 3-3-2008. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The Town shall hold annual municipal elections for the offices
of Town Council as established by the Charter of the Town and following
the procedures established in the Charter, state law, 15 Del. C.,
Ch. 75, Subchapter IV, § 7501 et seq., and this chapter.
Voting machines obtained through the State of Delaware Department
of Elections shall be used. The Town shall contract with the Department
of Elections to conduct elections.
A.
A notice of solicitation of candidates shall be posted within the
Town no later than 20 days prior to the filing deadline for the offices
up for election and shall include the term(s) of each office up for
election, the deadline and procedure for declaring candidacy for an
office up for election and the qualifications for holding each office.
B.
A notice of election shall be posted within the Town no later than
20 days prior to the date of the election and shall include: the date,
time and location of the election; the candidates for each office
on the ballot; and the qualifications to vote in the election.
C.
Deadlines falling on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday in the Town shall
be extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or holiday,
except for filing notification of candidacy, which shall be required
on the last Friday in May. Deadlines shall be no earlier than 4:30
p.m.
A.
Not later than 60 days prior to the election, the Mayor shall appoint,
with the concurrence of the Town Council, a Board of Election 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.
B.
The term of the Board of Election shall be one year.
C.
Upon confirmation, the appointed members of the Board of Election
shall swear or affirm the following oath orally and in writing:
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I, ______, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the
State of Delaware, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties
as a member of the Board of Election for the Town of Millsboro by
ensuring that elections within the Town are conducted fairly, impartially
and in accordance with the Delaware Code, Town Charter and ordinances,
to the best of my ability.
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D.
The names of the Board of Election shall be posted within the Town
and shall be forwarded to the Department of Elections.
E.
The Board of Election shall hear any complaints regarding any aspect
of pre-election activity that is contrary to this chapter, the Charter
or applicable state law using the procedure established in 15 Del.
C. § 7552, as it maybe amended from time to time.
Pursuant to 15 Del. C. § 7555, candidates shall file
a certificate of intention or a statement of organization establishing
a campaign committee with the Department of Elections no later than
seven days after filing a notice of candidacy/declaration of candidacy
with the Town.
A.
Election officers. The Mayor and Town Council shall appoint election
officers, who may also be members of the Board of Election, in sufficient
number to conduct the election with the Board of Election. The Inspector
shall be chief election officer in the polling place. The Inspector
shall determine all challenges and all other issues involving the
conduct of the election at the polling place. The Board of Election
may provide advice and guidance to the election officers. The Board
of Election may remove election officers who violate the provisions
of this chapter, the Charter or state law.
B.
Conduct of the election. Only the persons authorized by law may be
in the polling place and voting room.
C.
Electioneering practices. 15 Del. C. § 4942 applies to
such practices.
D.
Challenges and challengers.
(1)
Each candidate on the ballot may appoint and accredit one or more
suitable persons as challengers. One challenger at a time for each
candidate maybe present inside the polling place to observe the conduct
of the election and all election records. Challengers may be changed
and their places filled in like manner during the day. Each challenger
shall present to the Inspector an authorization from his/her candidate
for that election. Each candidate may have additional challengers
present equal to the number of election machines being utilized.
(2)
The Inspector shall issue each challenger a badge which shall be
worn while in the polling place. If the challenger leaves the polling
place the badge must be surrendered to the Inspector.
(3)
Challengers may act as peace officers with the same powers of preserving
the peace as election officers; however, challengers may be ejected
by the Inspector for persisting in objectionable behavior.
(4)
Any person legally in the polling place may challenge any voter for
identity, address or bribery. The Inspector shall hear each challenge
before the person being challenged enters a voting machine. Once the
Inspector decides the challenge, the matter is decided and the challenged
person will be either permitted to vote or not permitted to vote and
to leave the polling place immediately. However, a person challenged
for bribery may take and subscribe to the oath as provided in 15 Del.
C. § 4940 and be permitted to vote.
E.
Voting machines; supplies; certification. The Department of Elections
shall prepare the voting machines for the election and supervise the
preparation and certification of the machines with two members of
the Board of Election.
F.
Oath of office for the Inspector and any other appointed election
officer, including the Board of Election, if acting as election officers,
shall be as set out in 15 Del. C. § 7557(f), as follows:
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I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that in the election to be held
on the ___day of _________, A.D. 20___, I will not knowingly or willfully
receive or consent to the receiving of the vote of any person who
is not a citizen, and also that I will not receive or consent to the
receiving of the vote of any person whom I shall believe not entitled
to vote, unless my associates shall adjudge such person to be entitled
to vote; that I will not receive or reject, nor concur in receiving
or rejecting any vote through partiality or under bias, and that I
will determine every matter that shall come before me and perform
every act and duty by law required of me, touching the election, truly,
faithfully and impartially, according to the best of my skill and
judgment; that I have not received, nor will I receive directly or
indirectly from or through any candidate to be voted for at such election,
or any other person, any money, pay, or other valuable thing or reward;
that I have not been promised, or in any manner been led to believe
that I will at any time directly or indirectly receive any money,
pay or other valuable thing or reward from such candidate or other
person other than that provided by law and if I shall discover any
partiality, unfairness or corruption in the conduct of the election,
I shall disclose the same to the Board of Elections that is conducting
the election and to the Attorney General to the end that the subject
may be investigated, so help me God (or so I solemnly affirm).
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G.
Preparation of polling place. The election officers shall arrive
at least one hour prior to the opening of the polls, prepare the polling
place, post signs, and certify with the Department of Elections the
voting machines, all as provided in 15 Del. C. § 7557(i).
H.
Voting procedure. A person shall show proof of identity and address
which the election officers shall check against the Town's registration
books. Once verified as a qualified voter, the person shall sign the
voter log and be directed to the voting machine. If the person is
challenged, the Inspector shall determine whether the person is qualified
to vote. The Inspector's determination is final and there is
no appeal at the polling place.
I.
At close of polls. The Inspector shall announce the closing of the
polls 30 minutes prior to such closing and at the closing time. Any
person in line at the time the polls closed shall be permitted to
vote.
J.
Election results.
(1)
The election officers shall, with the representative of the Department
of Elections, remove the cartridges and tapes from each voting machine,
record the protective counter and seal numbers on the voting machine
certificate, closing the voting machines, complete the vote tabulation
for the election, and post a copy of the results tape from each voting
machine on the door of the polling place. The election officers shall
deliver all election documents to the Board of Election, which shall
secure the documents until such time that they need to canvass the
election.
(2)
The Board of Election shall announce the results of an election as
soon as possible following the close of the polls.
(3)
Election contests are subject to 15 Del. C. §§ 5941
through 5955.
K.
A person certified by the Board of Election as being elected shall
not take office before the seventh day following the election.
