reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
15 DE Code § 7558. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter IV. Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7558. Election results; recounts; contests.

§ 7558. Election results; recounts; contests. (a) A person certified as being elected shall not take office before the seventh day following certification of the election. (b) The municipal Board of Elections shall announce the results of an election as soon as possible following the close of the polls. (c) The municipal Board of Elections shall recount the ballots if the difference between the top 2 candidates is 1/2 of 1% or less than the total votes cast for the office. Where electors vote for more than 1 candidate for an office, the municipal Board of Elections shall recount the ballots if the difference between the last candidate elected and the next closest candidate is 1/2 of 1% or less than the total votes cast for the office. (d) No later than 48 hours following the closing of the polls, the municipal Board of Elections shall convene within to determine the result of the election and certify the name of the winning candidates. (e) If, following certification of the election and the resolution of any contest, there is a tie vote for a municipal office, then the State Election Commissioner shall order a new election in which only the candidates or positions tied will be on the ballot, unless the laws of the municipality otherwise provide. The municipality shall conduct the special election in accordance with this subchapter; provided, however, that the Department of Elections shall defray the cost of such election up to a cap of $2,500. (f) The municipal Board of Elections, following certification of the election and the resolution of any contest, shall audit the election records in order to reconcile the number of voters who cast ballots as compared to the number of voters who returned absentee ballots and voted on voting machines. The results of this audit shall be reported to the municipality's chief executive and be made available for public review. (g) Sections 5941 through 5955 of this title apply to election contests within municipalities. For purposes of this subsection, the words “county, district or hundred” as used in § 5941 of this title shall mean “municipality” and the words “board of canvass” as used throughout §§ 5941 through 5955 of this title shall mean “municipal Board of Elections.” 75 Del. Laws, c. 342, §  2;  76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  1;  78 Del. Laws, c. 248, §  5;  82 Del. Laws, c. 170, § 57;
15 DE Code § 7559. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter IV. Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7559. Transition.

§ 7559. Transition. (a) This subchapter shall apply to elections held after June 30, 2007. (b) The State Election Commissioner shall promulgate all forms required by 75 Del. Laws, c. 342 by April 30, 2007. 75 Del. Laws, c. 342, §  2;  76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 227, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7570. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7570. Purpose of subchapter; scope.

§ 7570. Purpose of subchapter; scope. It is the purpose and intent of the General Assembly in enacting this subchapter to provide those qualified electors of municipalities governed under subchapter IV of this chapter who are unable to appear at a municipal election to cast their ballots with the ability to cast a ballot to be counted in the total for the municipal election. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7571. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7571. Persons eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

§ 7571. Persons eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Any person qualified under the provisions of a municipal charter to vote by absentee ballot in any municipal election held in that municipality (“elector”) may vote by absentee ballot for any reason authorized by that municipality's charter or ordinances and for any of the following reasons:  (1) Because such person is in the public service of the United States or of this State, or is a citizen of the United States temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia, or such person's spouse or dependents when residing with or accompanying the person, or is absent from this State because of illness or injury received while serving in the armed forces of the United States; or (2) Because such person is in the armed forces of the United States or the Merchant Marines of the United States, or attached to and serving with the armed forces of the United States in the American Red Cross or United Service Organizations; or (3) Because of the nature of such person's business or occupation, including the business or occupation of providing care to a parent, spouse or that person's child who is living at home and requires constant care due to illness or injury; or (4) Because such person is sick or physically disabled; or (5) Because such person is absent from the municipality while on vacation; or (6) Because such person is unable to vote at a certain time or on a certain day due to the tenets or teachings of that person's religion.76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7572. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7572. Request for ballot; statement for absentee ballots; delivery of absentee ballots.

§ 7572. Request for ballot; statement for absentee ballots; delivery of absentee ballots. (a) An elector desiring to vote by absentee ballot in an election for which the elector is a qualified elector may request an absentee ballot from the municipality where the elector is qualified to vote by filing a written statement with the municipality no later than 12: 00 noon the day before the election. (b) A statement may be filed pursuant to this section by mailing it, delivering it, or causing it to be delivered to the municipality where the elector is qualified to vote. (c) Statements filed pursuant to this section shall:  (1) Indicate the election or elections for which the elector is requesting an absentee ballot; (2) Include at least the following information:  a. The elector's name; b. The address within the municipality at which the elector establishes eligibility to vote; c. The address to which the elector requests that the absentee ballot be mailed; d. The elector's date of birth; e. The elector's expected location on election day; f. The reason that the elector cannot appear at the regular polling place on the day of the election which reason shall be any of the reasons listed in § 7571 of this title. g. A telephone number, if available, to assist in resolving any challenge; h. An e-mail address, if available, to assist in resolving any challenge; and i. The elector's signature; (3) Be subscribed and sworn to by the elector. (d) [Repealed.] (e) The State Election Commissioner shall create an absentee statement template that municipalities shall use in creating their own absentee statement by adding additional reasons that a person may vote by absentee ballot. The State Election Commissioner shall also designate envelopes and create a set of instructions for voters casting their votes by absentee ballot that municipalities may use to comply with the provisions of this subchapter. (f) The municipality may adopt a printed or electronic statement form (or both), containing blanks associated with each item required by this section to be listed on a statement, which may be completed by any elector wishing to receive an absentee ballot pursuant to this section. An elector may submit a written or electronic request to the municipality for the municipality prepared statement form, which the municipality shall forward to the elector upon receipt of a request therefore. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;  77 Del. Laws, c. 227, §  2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 419, § 1;
15 DE Code § 7573. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7573. Distribution of ballots, envelopes, and instructions; envelope specifications; prepaid postage.

§ 7573. Distribution of ballots, envelopes, and instructions; envelope specifications; prepaid postage. (a) Upon receipt of a statement from an elector pursuant to § 7572 of this title, the municipality shall process the same and confirm that the elector qualifies for an absentee ballot pursuant to § 7571 of this title. (b) Not more than 60 nor less than 4 days prior to an election, and within 3 days after the absentee ballots, envelopes, and instructions therefore become available, the municipality shall mail, to each elector who requests and qualifies for an absentee ballot pursuant to § 7571 of this title, the following:  (1) An absentee ballot for the municipal election in which the elector is qualified to vote; (2) Instructions for completing the absentee ballot and returning it to the municipality, marked “INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING AND RETURNING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT”; and (3) An envelope marked “BALLOT ENVELOPE”, which shall be:  a. Of the type known as a security mailing envelope, designed to securely protect the contents thereof from tampering, removal, or substitution without detection; b. Large enough to carry the ballot; and c. Addressed for return to the municipality where the elector is qualified to vote. (c) Postage for all mailings made pursuant to this subsection shall be prepaid by the municipality. (d) Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the issuance of an absentee ballot to those lawfully entitled thereto when the request is made less than 4 days prior to the election. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 419, § 2;
15 DE Code § 7574. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7574. Requirements for ballot envelope; numbering and coding; voter identification label; affidavit of eligibility.

§ 7574. Requirements for ballot envelope; numbering and coding; voter identification label; affidavit of eligibility. (a) The municipality shall provide to each elector to whom it sends an absentee ballot an envelope which shall be:  (1) A color other than white; (2) Large enough to hold a completed ballot; and (3) Designed to protect its contents from tampering, removal or substitution without detection. (b) Upon each envelope provided pursuant to this section shall appear:  (1) The words “BALLOT ENVELOPE”; (2) An alpha-numeric symbol and/or barcode for use in accounting for the absentee ballot; (3) Identification information for the elector receiving the absentee ballot, including: the name of the municipality where the elector is qualified to vote; the elector's name; the elector's mailing address; the address within the municipality that establishes the elector's eligibility to vote if different from the elector's mailing address; and such other information as the municipality may require; and (4) The following oath:  “I do solemnly swear (affirm) that to the best of my knowledge I am eligible to vote in this municipal election and that the address that appears on the label on this envelope is the address at which I am qualified to vote in this municipal election. I also do solemnly swear (affirm) under penalty of perjury that I have not received or accepted, or offered to receive or accept, any money or other item of value as compensation, inducement or reward for the giving or withholding of a vote at this municipal election, nor that I am acting under duress or threat of duress or harm.” (5) The voter's signature.76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7575. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7575. Voting procedure; execution of affidavit; return of ballot.

§ 7575. Voting procedure; execution of affidavit; return of ballot. The procedure for completing an absentee ballot and returning it to the municipality is as follows:  (1) An elector who receives an absentee ballot pursuant to this chapter shall complete the ballot by marking it with the elector's selections and shall place the completed ballot in the envelope marked “BALLOT ENVELOPE.” (2) The elector shall confirm that the information about that elector on the ballot envelope is correct and then sign the self-administered oath. (3) The elector shall then seal the ballot envelope. (4) The elector shall return the sealed ballot envelope to the municipality by:  a. Depositing it in a United States postal mailbox, thereby mailing it to the municipality issuing the ballot; or b. Delivering it, or causing it to be delivered, to the municipality before the polls close on the day of the election.76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7576. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7576. Time limit for return of ballot; late ballots.

§ 7576. Time limit for return of ballot; late ballots. (a) Each municipality shall endorse the date and time of receipt on the ballot envelope of each absentee ballot received by the municipality. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for an absentee ballot to be counted pursuant to this chapter, an elector voting by absentee ballot shall return the elector marked ballot to the municipality where the elector is qualified to vote before the polls close on the day of the election. (c) Each municipality shall retain unopened any ballot envelope it receives after the polls close on the day of the election for 60 days after the election, or longer if directed by proper authority or required to do so by federal law. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;  77 Del. Laws, c. 152, §  1;
15 DE Code § 7577. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7577. Procedure on receipt of ballot envelope by municipality.

§ 7577. Procedure on receipt of ballot envelope by municipality. (a) Upon receipt of a ballot envelope the municipality, or a person authorized by the municipality, shall:  (1) Ascertain the names of each elector as they appear on the face of each ballot envelope; (2) Ascertain from the information on the ballot envelope the municipal election district with whose votes the ballot within it shall be tallied; and (3) Place the ballot envelope in a secure location until such time as it is opened and the ballot within it is counted. (b) No agent or employee of the municipality shall open or attempt to open the ballot envelope, or change or alter or attempt to change or alter the ballot envelope, or any writing, printing or anything whatsoever thereon. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7579. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7579. Preparing absentee ballots to be counted.

§ 7579. Preparing absentee ballots to be counted. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the board of election of any municipality may open absentee ballot envelopes in a public meeting in order to prepare them to be counted. Such meeting shall take place, upon proper notice, at any time between 8: 00 a.m. of the day prior to the election and up to 1 hour before the polls are scheduled to open. The municipality shall notify each candidate on the ballot that they may have challengers at the meeting during which the board of election opens the absentee ballots. At such meeting, the board of elections shall act in accordance with the same procedures as set out in § 7578(1), (2), (3), and (5)(a) through (d) of this title inclusive, with the exception that the absentee ballot judges shall not proceed to tally the votes for any group of ballots but shall then secure such ballots, ballot envelopes, and any rejected ballot envelopes in a carrier envelope along with the log sheet showing the serial number of the log sheet. The absentee ballot judges shall then seal the carrier envelope or envelopes and deliver it/them to the board of elections. The board of elections shall then secure the carrier envelope or envelopes in locked cabinets until opened at a subsequent public meeting to tally the ballots on the day of the election in accordance with § 7578(4) and (6) through (10) of this title. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7580. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7580. Carrier envelope specifications; carrier envelopes as ballot boxes.

§ 7580. Carrier envelope specifications; carrier envelopes as ballot boxes. (a) The municipality shall purchase envelopes to be used as carrier envelopes, which shall be security mailing envelopes, designed to securely protect the contents thereof from tampering, removal, or substitution without detection and shall be large enough to accommodate multiple absentee ballots cast in the election. (b) Carrier envelopes shall:  (1) For all purposes of this title be considered the official ballot boxes for absentee votes cast during a given election; (2) Contain voted absentee ballots from a municipality; (3) Be labeled to reflect the municipality whose absentee ballots are held inside; and (4) Ensure the security of said ballots in the event they must be moved for the purposes of certifying an election or recounting votes cast in an election. (c) A sealed carrier envelope may be reopened only when necessary to certify an election or recount votes cast in an election. (d) In the event the municipality must move absentee ballots for the purposes of certifying an election, or recounting votes cast in an election, it shall select the carrier envelopes for the affected municipal election districts and move them, in a secure fashion, to the location where the carrier envelopes will be opened and the votes inside inspected. (e) Upon completion of any inspection of votes pursuant to this subsection, absentee ballots shall be returned to the carrier envelopes from which they were removed and the carrier envelopes shall be:  (1) Resealed in a secure manner, or shall be placed in another security envelope, for the purposes of securely protecting the contents thereof from tampering, removal, or substitution without detection; and (2) Put the carrier envelope in a secure location until such time it is needed for a recount, legal action, or is to be destroyed as provided in this chapter.76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;
15 DE Code § 7581. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7581. Challenges.

§ 7581. Challenges. (a) The ballot of any elector choosing to vote by absentee ballot may be challenged for the same causes and in the same manner as provided in this title for other voters. (b) In addition, the vote of an absentee voter may be challenged:  (1) On the ground that the statement filed by the voter in compliance with § 7572 of this title is false; or (2) On the ground that the self-administered statement on the ballot envelope is not signed. (c) If a challenge is made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, an absentee judge shall return the ballot to its ballot envelope, shall mark the ballot envelope as “CHALLENGED”, and shall set the envelope aside in a secure location for consideration at a later time as provided elsewhere in this title. If a challenge is made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, an absentee judge shall mark the ballot envelope as “CHALLENGED” and shall set it aside in a secure location for consideration at a later time as provided elsewhere in this title. (d) All challenges to absentee ballots must be resolved before the counting of votes may be considered complete. Any challenge not resolved by the absentee judges within a reasonable time of the challenge having been made shall be referred to the board of elections for the municipality for resolution. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 419, § 4;
15 DE Code § 7582. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7582. Rejected ballots.

§ 7582. Rejected ballots. (a) No vote shall be accepted or counted if:  (1) The statement of the absentee voter that appears on the front of the ballot envelope is found to have been altered or is not signed; or (2) The absentee voter is not a duly qualified elector entitled to vote in the municipality; (3) The ballot envelope is open; or (4) It is evident that the ballot envelope has been opened and resealed; (5) It is evident that the ballot envelope has been tampered with or altered. (b) If the ballot envelope has not been opened at the time an absentee judge decides that the offered ballot contained therein should not be accepted or voted for any of the reasons set forth in subsection (a) of this section, it shall not be opened but shall instead be endorsed thereon as, “REJECTED”, giving reason therefore. (c) If the ballot envelope has been opened at the time an absentee judge decides that the offered ballot contained therein should not be accepted or voted for any of the reasons set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the ballot shall be returned to its ballot envelope and the absentee judge shall endorse on the ballot envelope, “REJECTED”, giving reason therefore. (d) Whenever it is made to appear by due proof to an absentee judge that any absentee voter, who has marked and forwarded the absentee voter's ballot, has died, the ballot envelope containing the ballot shall not be opened but shall be marked “REJECTED, DEAD”, and shall be preserved and disposed of as other rejected ballots. (e) Whenever a ballot has not been counted but has been rejected pursuant to this section, the appropriate notation shall be made on the absentee ballot tally and the number of ballots so rejected shall be noted on the certificates of election. (f) Ballots rejected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in a carrier envelope for the municipal election district to which they apply. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 419, § 5;
15 DE Code § 7583. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 15 - Elections|Chapter 75. Municipal Elections|Subchapter V. Absentee Voting in Municipal Elections Except for the City of Wilmington|§ 7583. Validity of absentee voter's ballot for wrong municipal election district.

§ 7583. Validity of absentee voter's ballot for wrong municipal election district. If an absentee voter marks and returns an absentee ballot for a municipal election district other than the 1 of which the absentee voter is a duly registered elector, such ballot, because thereof, shall not be adjudged invalid, but, as indicated by the marking of the ballot by the voter, shall be counted as a vote for every candidate appearing thereon who is a candidate for an office to be duly voted for in the municipal election district. 76 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  2;