Polls show the number of voters is potentially in record numbers

A line of early voters snaked around the state Department of Elections warehouse near New Castle on Friday — the first day of early voting in Delaware.

There is a possibility that the number of voters in Delaware could break previous early voting records, according to a spokesman for the Department of Elections.

“Early voting sites statewide opened at 11 a.m. today,” said Cathleen Hartsky-Carter, a spokeswoman for the Department of Elections.

As of 12:44 p.m. Friday, Hartsky-Carter said more than 6,000 people had already voted, with Sussex County voters outnumbering northern counties.

Early voting in Delaware mirrors national numbers

Delaware's high voter turnout is consistent with nationwide figures showing that millions of Americans have voted every day since early voting began – either in person or by returning mail-in ballots.

As of Thursday, nearly 30 million Americans had voted early — either in person or by mail — according to the University of Florida Election Lab, which tracks the numbers daily.

Thousands of Delawareans went to the polls on the first day of early voting

More than 6,000 Delawareans voted in the first two hours of early voting.

More than 100 million people voted in early 2020, with a total of about 158 million votes cast in a race won by Democrat President Joe Biden.

More: Republicans narrowed Democrats' lead in early voting. What it means for the race.

Surprise meets excitement in long lines in Delaware

Karole Meade, of Bear, was among the Delaware voters who went to the Department of Elections Warehouse at 220 Lisa Drive early Friday afternoon and found a line wrapped around the building in the New Castle area.

“I’m shocked,” she said shortly after moving to the end of the line.

In previous elections, Meade said she arrived, voted and then left.

“I’ve never stood in line,” she said, adding that she was happy to see people outside.

Meade added she is willing to wait in line as long as necessary.

In Dover, more than 100 voters stood in line at Crossroad Church on Route 13 across from Walmart around 12:30 p.m. Friday.

At the end of the line that stretched from the door to the back of the parking lot was Lydia Young.

“I’ve lived here for 17 years and I’ve never seen it like this,” Young said. “I usually vote on Election Day, but since it was a special election and I saw it on the news, I wanted to vote early.”

Jim Murray was also surprised by the number of voters Friday and said he was very interested in this election, especially the presidential election.

“I didn’t want to wait until November 5th,” Murray said.

One of the people helping direct drivers to available parking spaces said the flow of voters had been steady since the doors opened.

Where can you vote early?: Here are the polls as early voting begins in Delaware

Sussex County outperforms

Sussex County voters performed strongly in the first two hours of voting, outperforming their two northern neighbors by more than 1,000 votes.

A Trump supporter and a Harris supporter loudly fired shots at each other while waiting in line to vote at American Legion Post 28 in Millsboro. The Trump supporter then gave a speech about how proud he was of everyone who came out to vote, no matter who they voted for, and the whole line applauded.

Barbara and Brian Ferrenz, Democratic volunteers for the 41st House District, were on site in Millsboro all day. When the doors opened at 11 a.m., the line was already moving through the parking lot, they said. The line of about 125 people at 1:15 p.m. was the shortest they had seen all day.

Some of those voters caused a traffic jam on Route 24 in the area.

Charles and Trudy Frederick said they were voting early for the first time because they knew it would be crowded and they wanted to make sure their votes counted.

A woman in line said she was traveling for the next few weeks, so Friday was simply the best time for her to vote.

Several people shrugged when asked why they voted so early.

“It’s just something to do,” one woman said. “What a beautiful day.”

This is a developing story. For more information, visit delawareonline.com.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or [email protected].

Early voting in Delaware mirrors national numbers

Surprise meets excitement in long lines in Delaware

Sussex County outperforms

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