DOVER, DE – On Friday, October 7, 2022, the Delaware Supreme Court determined two laws established via Senate Bill 320 as amended (SB 320) and House Substitute 1 for House Bill 25 (HB 25) violated the Delaware Constitution.
SB 320 implemented vote-by-mail and was ruled unconstitutional by the Delaware Court of Chancery in September. HB 25 established a same-day voter registration system and was originally upheld.
Senate Republican Leader Gerald Hocker (R-Ocean View) and Senate Republican Whip Brian Pettyjohn (R-Georgetown) issued the following statement reacting to the news.
“As Republicans in the Delaware General Assembly correctly argued during the floor debates for SB 320 and HB 25, both bills violated the Delaware Constitution. The sponsors and Democrats ignored our concerns, dismissed expert legal testimony, and passed both pieces of legislation anyway. Today, however, the rule of law prevailed.
“We thank the Delaware Supreme Court justices for the expedited process and their unanimous decision.” Senators Hocker and Pettyjohn serve the 20th Senate District and 19th Senate District, respectively.
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