Delaware Petition Signature Requirements (2026)
How many signatures you need to qualify for the ballot in Delaware, the 2026 petition filing windows, and how to validate your signatures against the Delaware voter file.
Signature requirements by office
| Office | Minimum signatures | % of enrolled voters |
|---|---|---|
| State Treasurer, State Comptroller | — | 5% |
| Attorney General | — | 5% |
| Governor, Lieutenant Governor | — | 5% |
| State Senator, State Representative | — | 5% |
| U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative | — | 5% |
2026 petition deadlines
State Treasurer, State Comptroller
- Primary petition opens:
- March 31, 2026
- Primary petition deadline:
- July 14, 2026
- General petition opens:
- September 9, 2026
- General petition deadline:
- August 4, 2026
- Primary election:
- September 8, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
Attorney General; Governor, Lieutenant Governor; State Senator, State Representative; U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative
- Primary petition opens:
- January 1, 2026
- Primary petition deadline:
- July 14, 2026
- General petition opens:
- January 1, 2026
- General petition deadline:
- September 1, 2026
- Primary election:
- September 15, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
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Start validating freeDelaware petition rules & details
Primary petition — signature rules
Major-party candidates: declaration + filing fee with Department of Elections
Primary petition — deadline rules
Filing deadline second Tuesday in July (5pm)
General petition — signature rules
Independent candidates: petition with signatures from 1% of party-affiliated voters
General petition — deadline rules
Independent candidates file by first Tuesday in August
Primary petition — signature rules
Attorney General: Filing fee max 1% of term salary or in-lieu petition with 1% of registered voters statewide. Criminal background check required as of 2024.
Primary petition — deadline rules
Major party candidates must file notice of candidacy by noon on second Tuesday in July (July 14, 2026)
General petition — signature rules
Unaffiliated candidates: 1% of eligible voters statewide as of December 31 of year prior to election
General petition — deadline rules
Unaffiliated candidates must file declaration by September 1. Petitions circulate January 1 - July 15
Primary petition — signature rules
Governor/Lt. Governor: Filing fee max 1% of term salary or in-lieu petition with 1% of registered voters statewide. Criminal background check required as of 2024.
Primary petition — signature rules
Major party candidates: Filing fee determined by party (max 1% of term salary) or in-lieu petition with 1% of registered voters in district
General petition — signature rules
Unaffiliated candidates: 1% of eligible voters in district as of December 31 of year prior to election
Primary petition — signature rules
US Senate: Filing fee max 1% of term salary ($10,440) or in-lieu petition with 1% of registered voters. US House: Filing fee max 1% of term salary ($3,480) or in-lieu petition with 1% of registered voters in district
General petition — signature rules
Unaffiliated candidates: 1% of eligible voters as of December 31 of year prior to election
Frequently asked questions
How many signatures do I need to get on the ballot in Delaware?
Delaware signature requirements vary by office. State Treasurer, State Comptroller: 5% of enrolled voters; Attorney General: 5% of enrolled voters; Governor, Lieutenant Governor: 5% of enrolled voters. See the full table above for all offices.
What is the 2026 petition filing deadline in Delaware?
For the 2026 cycle in Delaware, the primary petition deadline is July 14, 2026, and the general petition deadline is August 4, 2026. Confirm exact dates for your office above and with your election authority.
Can I validate Delaware petition signatures myself?
Yes. Petition Validator lets you upload petition pages and automatically matches each signer against the Delaware voter file — checking registration, address, and duplicates in seconds per signature. You can start free, no paid Victory Waves account required.
How does signature validation work?
You upload images of your petition pages; our system transcribes each signature and matches the signer's name, address, and date against official voter registration data to confirm they're a registered voter in the correct jurisdiction.
Last updated for the 2026 cycle on May 27, 2026. Always confirm requirements and deadlines with your state or local election authority.