AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO ELECTIONS AND VOTING.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and official text do not specify additional details about the voting process beyond requiring a two-thirds majority, which is already known from Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution.

Amending Voting Rules in Delaware

This bill proposes changing Article V of the Delaware Constitution to limit voter eligibility to natural persons and prevent corporations from voting.

What This Bill Does

• Proposes a change to Article V of the Delaware Constitution to limit voter eligibility to natural persons.
• Removes the ability for corporations and other artificial entities to be considered as voters in any election within Delaware.

Who It Names or Affects

• Voters in Delaware
• Corporations and other artificial entities

Terms To Know

Natural persons

Individual human beings, as opposed to corporations or other legal entities.

Artificial entities

Legal entities created by law, such as corporations and partnerships.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill needs approval from the next General Assembly session for it to become part of the Delaware Constitution.
• It requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the General Assembly to pass.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO ELECTIONS AND VOTING.
This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would require that only natural persons be allowed to vote in any election in this State, and forbid corporations and other artificial entities from voting in such elections.

This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

In addition, as the first leg of a constitutional amendment, the next General Assembly must pass an act concurring with this Act for it to become part of the Delaware Constitution.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Harris & Rep. Snyder-Hall & Sen. Hoffner

Reps. Morrison, Wilson-Anton; Sens. Lockman, Sokola, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 430

AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO ELECTIONS AND VOTING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Article V of the Delaware Constitution by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2C. Qualifications for voting; natural persons.

Only natural persons may vote in elections occurring in or for this State at any level or political subdivision, including municipal or local elections, county elections, State elections, and federal elections. Corporations and other artificial entities may not be deemed natural persons for purposes of determining voter eligibility.

SYNOPSIS

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would require that only natural persons be allowed to vote in any election in this State, and forbid corporations and other artificial entities from voting in such elections.

This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

In addition, as the first leg of a constitutional amendment, the next General Assembly must pass an act concurring with this Act for it to become part of the Delaware Constitution.