Wilmington, Delaware Public Records

The New Castle County Courthouse stands as the central hub for local court proceedings, offering in-person access to documents and serving as the venue for trials and hearings across various legal matters.

The Delaware Archives and Genealogy website hosts historical records spanning census data, vital statistics, and military service files, providing residents with tools to explore the area's past and trace family histories.

Delaware residents can register to vote online at ivote.de.gov, the official portal maintained by the State Election Commissioner. Registration deadlines fall 24 days before any election for in-person registration and the fourth Saturday before Election Day for online registration. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, Delaware residents, and at least 18 years old by the next general election. They need to provide either a Delaware driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The state offers same-day registration during early voting but not on Election Day itself. Municipal elections in Wilmington take place on the second Tuesday in September during odd-numbered years. The next mayoral election is scheduled for September 2025, with City Council races also on that ballot. The Mayor serves a four-year term, while thirteen City Council members represent both district and at-large seats. City elections are non-partisan. Candidates must file with the Wilmington City Clerk at 800 N French Street (phone: 302-576-2140) by mid-July of election years. Ballot questions and charter amendments may also appear before voters. Residents can locate their assigned polling place by visiting ivote.de.gov and using the "Where Do I Vote?" tool, which requires entering a name and date of birth or address. The website displays the polling location address, hours, and accessibility information. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day. New Castle County operates approximately 100 polling locations for the city and surrounding areas. Delaware public election records include voter registration lists, available for purchase by campaigns and political organizations, along with campaign finance reports searchable at cfrs.elections.delaware.gov. Candidate filings and precinct-level results are also public. The Delaware Department of Elections publishes election results at elections.delaware.gov/results/index.shtml, breaking down returns by Representative District, county, and statewide totals. In the November 2024 presidential election, New Castle County reported approximately 68% voter turnout among registered voters, with over 340,000 ballots cast out of approximately 500,000 registered voters. Turnout in Wilmington typically mirrors county averages in presidential elections but drops considerably in off-year municipal contests. On November 3, 2026, voters in Wilmington and New Castle County will decide several important races. Delaware's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Chris Coons is not up for election in 2026 (next election 2026), but the state's other Senate seat may be on the ballot depending on the term. The Delaware Governor's office will be on the ballot in 2024, not 2026. Voters will elect Delaware's at-large U.S. Representative, all Delaware State Senate seats (21 total), all Delaware State House seats (41 total), and various county offices including New Castle County Executive and County Council seats. Multiple Representative and Senatorial districts covering the city will have races. Delaware offers no-excuse absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Applications are available at ivote.de.gov or through the County Department of Elections. Applications must be received by the Friday before Election Day. Completed ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmarked by Election Day and received within three days) or in person at the County Elections office or designated drop boxes. Early in-person voting begins the Friday ten days before Election Day and runs through the Sunday before Election Day at designated locations announced by the Department of Elections.