The City of Newark will hold a special municipal election on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. The office for which an election will be held is the office of Mayor.  This election will fill the remainder of the current term for Mayor, which ends in April 2025.

Any qualified voter of the city who, for a period of at least 15 years preceding the election has not been convicted of a felony, as that crime is designated by the State of Delaware, and who has resided in the city for at least one year next preceding the election, shall be eligible to hold the office of Mayor. A qualified voter, eligible to hold the office of Mayor, shall mean a person who is a registered voter at the time their nominating petition is filed and who resides within City limits.

All nominations for Mayor shall be declared by petition which can be obtained in the City Secretary’s Office, 220 South Main Street, Newark, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or via email at citysecretary@newark.de.us. Each nominating petition for Mayor shall be signed by the candidate and, in addition, shall bear the signatures of 10 qualified voters residing within City limits. Petitions with all requisite signatures must be filed with the City Secretary by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023 in order to be eligible for candidacy in the January 9, 2024 special election.

QUESTIONS should be directed to the City Secretary’s office, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 302-366-7000 or citysecretary@newark.de.us.

Candidates

Jerry Clifton - verified by the Board of Elections on October 25, 2023

Michael O'Neal - verified by the Board of Elections on October 27, 2023

Sherry Hoffman - Ms. Hoffman withdrew her candidacy for Mayor on November 13, 2023

Polling Locations

District 1 – Wesleyan Church of Newark, 708 W. Church Road

District 2 – Newark Free Library, 750 Library Avenue

District 3 – Aetna Fire Station #7, 7 Thorn Lane

District 4 – St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church, 276 S. College Avenue

District 5 – First Presbyterian Church, Memorial Hall, 292 W. Main Street

District 6 – Alder Creek Community Room, 101 Terrace Drive

 Need help identifying your district? View the Election Polling Places application here!

The City of Newark Election Polling Places application helps citizens locate their election polling place and obtain information about current elected officials. To locate a polling place, simply click on the map or enter an address in the search box. The polling place and respective voting precinct will then be highlighted on the map and information about the polling place will appear in a pop-up box on the page. For an instructional video on how to operate the polling place application, click here. 

A form of identification will be required of all voters. For absentee ballots, please contact the City Secretary's Office at (302) 366-7000.

Voter Registration

Requirements to Vote

• You must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must have established residency in the city for at least 24 days prior to the election.

Any individual who is at least 18 years old and is registered to vote with the State of Delaware at a residence within the City of Newark is eligible to vote for Mayor. If you are unsure if you are registered, please call the City Secretary’s office at (302) 366-7000 and a staff member can look up your registration. You may register to vote through the State Department of Elections here.

Request an Absentee Ballot

More information will be provided at the close of the December 11, 2023 filing date deadline.

Working at the Polls

The City of Newark is looking for City residents who would like to work at the polling places. Workers must be available from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the day of the election as well as for a training to be scheduled in the week prior to the election. Payment ranges from $150 to $185 for workers depending on the role to which they are assigned plus an additional $50 for attending training prior to the election. Lunch is provided.

For more information, please contact the City Secretary's Office at 302-366-7000 or citysecretary@newark.de.us.

More Information

If you have specific questions about city elections, you may call the City Secretary's Office at (302) 366-7000. For further information, you may call the New Castle County Department of Elections at (302) 577-3464.