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Read. Follow. Verify.Delaware Establishes State Voting Rights Act to Prohibit Suppression and Dilution
Last action · August 6, 2026: Signed by GovernorSponsors: Larry Lambert and 22 others
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What This Bill Does
Delaware enacted the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to prohibit and , establish legal mechanisms for individuals and the Attorney General to challenge discriminatory election practices, and require multilingual ballot access in local jurisdictions meeting specific threshold counts.
Expands voting access by allowing citizens and organizations to sue local jurisdictions and the state in court over election rules that create participation disparities for protected classes, without requiring proof of discriminatory intent.
- The federal John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act aims to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 at the federal level, prompting several states to enact their own state-level voting rights protections. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Protected class members
Protected class members gain enhanced legal protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, along with the ability to challenge discriminatory election practices in court.
Limited English proficient individuals
Limited English proficient voters gain mandatory multilingual election materials and assistance in qualifying local jurisdictions, as well as the right to choose an assistant in the voting booth.
Department of Elections
The Department of Elections must designate languages for assistance, publish annual lists, establish public comment petition processes, and ensure local compliance.
Political subdivisions
Local governments and election authorities face potential legal challenges, mandatory public hearing requirements for policy changes, and obligations to provide language services.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a voter suppression claim require proof that officials intended to discriminate?
When is a local office legally required to provide language assistance under the Act?
Who can file a lawsuit to enforce the provisions of the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
13 actions- Aug 6, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolledSigned by Governor
- Jun 30, 2026SenateFloorPassed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- Jun 30, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
- Jun 25, 2026SenateIntroducedAssigned to Finance Committee in Senate
- Jun 25, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
- Jun 18, 2026SenateIntroducedAssigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate
Show 7 earlier actions
- Jun 18, 2026HouseFloorPassed By House. Votes: 29 YES 11 NO 1 ABSENT
- Jun 18, 2026HouseCommitteeAmendment HA 1 to HB 444 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- Jun 18, 2026HouseCommitteeAmendment HA 1 to HB 444 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- Jun 16, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
- Jun 11, 2026HouseIntroducedAssigned to Appropriations Committee in House
- Jun 10, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in House with 4 On Its Merits
- Jun 4, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced and Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in House
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
SM
Total
21
- Yes
- 21
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (21)
Show 1 earlier roll call
SM
Total
40
- Yes
- 29
- No
- 11
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (40)
16 more members
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 18 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Elimination of Intent Requirement for Suppression Claims
The Act breaks from traditional civil rights litigation models by explicitly waiving the requirement to prove discriminatory intent when evaluating voter suppression claims.
Connected Entities
Sources
legis.delaware.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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