Delaware County officials outline Nov. 3 election preparations — apply early, use drop boxes
September 22, 2026 | Delaware County, Pennsylvania
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Delaware County election officials told the Board of Elections on Sept. 22 they are preparing for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election by completing system testing, scheduling additional voter services and monitoring drop-box security.
Director Mr. Allen urged voters to "apply early" for mail or absentee ballots, to return ballot envelopes promptly, and to use county drop boxes where possible. He told the board staff had completed hash testing on the central-count servers, scanners and a random sample of precinct equipment and that "the hashes were a 100% accurate." He emphasized the county's voting system is isolated from the county network and not connected to the internet.
Crystal Winterbottom, chief clerk for voter registration, told the board the county "currently have[s] 411,000 voters in Delaware County" and described recent ERIC/SHOR verification steps and 11,611 notices mailed since June to validate addresses. Mr. Allen said preliminary testing of approximately 43,000 completed mail-absentee applications is finished and that the first mail drop is targeted for around Sept. 29 (possibly Sept. 30 if delayed by the printer).
Staff said every scanner and ballot-marking device will undergo logic-and-accuracy testing with real Election Day ballots before delivery to precincts. Mr. Allen also outlined Voter Service Center hours: opening Sept. 29, daily except Sundays through Election Day; regular weekday hours 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., extended to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Saturday hours 9 a.m.–noon. The Voter Service Center will allow in-person application for a mail-absentee ballot, same-day issuance, and return in one visit.
On security, staff reported meetings with solicitors and the sheriff's department and said they will provide poll-worker training and de-escalation resources; they also plan camera checks and battery replacements at drop boxes and will open most drop boxes earlier than normal ahead of the election.
Director Mr. Allen urged voters to "apply early" for mail or absentee ballots, to return ballot envelopes promptly, and to use county drop boxes where possible. He told the board staff had completed hash testing on the central-count servers, scanners and a random sample of precinct equipment and that "the hashes were a 100% accurate." He emphasized the county's voting system is isolated from the county network and not connected to the internet.
Crystal Winterbottom, chief clerk for voter registration, told the board the county "currently have[s] 411,000 voters in Delaware County" and described recent ERIC/SHOR verification steps and 11,611 notices mailed since June to validate addresses. Mr. Allen said preliminary testing of approximately 43,000 completed mail-absentee applications is finished and that the first mail drop is targeted for around Sept. 29 (possibly Sept. 30 if delayed by the printer).
Staff said every scanner and ballot-marking device will undergo logic-and-accuracy testing with real Election Day ballots before delivery to precincts. Mr. Allen also outlined Voter Service Center hours: opening Sept. 29, daily except Sundays through Election Day; regular weekday hours 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., extended to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Saturday hours 9 a.m.–noon. The Voter Service Center will allow in-person application for a mail-absentee ballot, same-day issuance, and return in one visit.
On security, staff reported meetings with solicitors and the sheriff's department and said they will provide poll-worker training and de-escalation resources; they also plan camera checks and battery replacements at drop boxes and will open most drop boxes earlier than normal ahead of the election.
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