House Elections & Government Affairs Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 14, 2026·54m·▶ Watch / Listen

The House Elections & Government Affairs Committee advanced a bill modernizing Delaware's special election process to require voter-driven primaries, while a separate voter photo ID bill failed to gain enough votes for release, with opposition centered on disenfranchisement concerns and a transportation trust fund conflict raised by DelDOT.

Key Actions

·HS1 for HB 183 – Special Elections for General AssemblyPassed

+ 1 more action

Controversies

Whether in-person voter fraud is a real and documented problem warranting a photo ID requirement

Representative Morrison argued that Commissioner Albin has been with the Department of Elections since 2007 without ever encountering a case of in-person voter identity fraud, and that approximately 200 affidavits of voter identity out of 518,330 total 2024 votes does not establish a problem. Representative Shupe redirected to his constituent — a green card holder automatically registered to vote — as evidence of a systemic vulnerability, arguing the bill would act as a last stop to ensure voters are of age, Delaware residents, and U.S. citizens. Morrison then challenged Shupe directly, asking why he believed the number of improperly registered non-citizens would increase.

+ 2 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Under our current law for special elections, party committees volunteers can select nominees also Party chairs, county chairs. Voters may never get a primary and entire districts can be represented by people that they initially did not have the chance to select.”
Representative Gorman — Gorman, the sponsor of HS1 for HB 183, was explaining the deficiency in Delaware's existing special election process that the bill is designed to replace with a voter-driven primary system.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Motion to release HS1 for HB 183Passed

Yes (6)Representative Bolden (Chair), Representative Carson (Vice Chair), Representative Bush, Representative Osienski, Representative Phillips, Representative York

Absent (1)Representative Haloski

Motion to release HB 112 (made by Representative Morrison, seconded by Representative York)Failed

Yes (1)Representative York

No (5)Representative Bolden, Representative Morrison, Representative Bush, Representative Osienski, Representative Phillips

Absent (1)Representative Polowski

Unlock the full summary

Subscribe to see all key actions, controversies, quotes, and what's next.

TranscriptPreview

And Happy New Year. Guess this is your first committee meeting. If not, let it be your last. No. Before we begin, I'd like everybody make sure you have your cell phones on silent or off altogether. I am Chairperson Stephanie T. Bolden. The T's were terrific, so let me know in the beginning. Members, please be aware that the microphones at your desk are live and any conversations will be easily picked up. These mics are connected to the live stream so that the public may watch the proceedings. The House of Representative, House of Elections and Government Affairs Committee meeting is called to order. In accordance with the House rules, members of the public can participate either in person or virtually through Zoom webinar. The public can participate virtually by registering through the meeting link posted on the General Assembly's website. Instructions for providing public comment are available on the website under this committee meeting's notice and will also be shared during the public comment portion of the hearing. Written comments may be submitted to the House Committee commentelaware.gov and any comments received within 24 hours after the hearing will be included in the public record. Members of…

Subscribe to unlock the full transcript, summary, and search across all Delaware committee hearings.