Delaware County Elections has begun the process of releasing the initial batch of vote-by-mail ballots (including both no-excuse mail-in ballots and traditional absentee ballots) to Delaware County voters who submitted a vote-by-mail application for the Nov. 8 General Election prior to Sept. 25, 2022.

More than 42,000 vote-by-mail ballots that were processed and approved by the Delaware County Bureau of Elections will be mailed October 7 and 8. Vote-by-Mail ballots requested on or after Sept. 27 will be mailed in subsequent mailings. The deadline to apply to Vote by Mail is Nov. 1, and applications may be submitted via the Votes PA website at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/.

Delaware County voters have the option of returning their completed vote-by-mail ballot through the United States Postal Service or through any one of the more than three dozen ballot drop boxes located in municipalities across the county. Postage is NOT required. 

Most ballot drop boxes will be open and accepting Delaware County vote-by-mail ballots on Mon., Oct. 24. Voters who wish to use a drop box before Oct. 24 may use the ballot drop box located in the lobby of Government Center Building in Media. This drop box, easily accessible to voters from the Orange Street entrance to the complex, is the only drop box open now.

The complete list of Delaware County ballot drop boxes can be found on the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/dropbox. Ballot drop box locations have remain largely unchanged over the past few elections, with a two recent exceptions: the Upper Chichester drop box, which has been discontinued at the request of the municipality, and the Media Borough drop box, which has been discontinued by the Bureau of Elections due to its close proximity to several other easily accessible drop boxes.

Voters are reminded that the return of a ballot by anyone other than the voter is prohibited unless the person returning the ballot is rendering assistance to a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter. Such assistance requires a declaration signed by the voter and by the person rendering assistance. The declaration form is accessible on the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/vbm.

To assure smooth processing of your ballot, voters should complete the declaration on the return envelope and avoid returning a so-called “naked ballot.” Each voter should place the voted mail-in/absentee ballot in the secrecy ballot provided, seal it, and then place that secrecy envelope in the larger return envelope. Once the return envelope is sealed, the voter should be sure to sign and date the declaration on the outside of the return envelope.

Delaware County voters may check the status of their Vote-by-Mail ballot application with the Pennsylvania Department of State's Election Ballot Status tool, accessible through the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/vbm. Similarly, voters unsure of their registration status can check online at delcopa.gov/regstatus.

Additional Resources: The Election Hotline, Voter Service Center and the Delco Votes! website

Delaware County voters have several resources available to help simplify the voting process. The Delaware County Election Hotline (610-891-VOTE) is available Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

The Voter Service Center in Media is open Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Voter Service Center will be open on the holiday on Mon., Oct. 10. Then, starting Oct. 12, the Voter Service Center will have expanded Wednesday evening hours (through 8 pm) and starting Oct. 15, Saturday morning hours (9 am-noon). The Voter Service Center processes applications and provides help to voters who do not receive, lose, damage or need replacement mail-in materials.

Delaware County’s election website — Delco Votes! — provides news, information, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, polling location information, access to downloadable and online forms, livestreams and recordings of Board of Elections meeting at delcopa.gov/vote.

Delaware County Council was honored to join representatives from the Philadelphia Union and WSFS Bank on October 4 as they made a major announcement regarding development along the Chester Waterfront.

Chester will soon be home to a world-class, state-of-the-art sports complex that will span 32 acres between Subaru Park and the Union Power Plant office building. The WSFS Sports Complex will include a 100,000-square-foot facility that includes a turf field that can be used for soccer, football, and lacrosse, two basketball courts, a performance center with a weight room and sprint track, locker rooms, and a café for athletes and guests. This will be a world-class venue for housing tournaments and other events and will put Chester on the map. 

This 55-million-dollar project marks a significant step in the development and revitalization of the Delaware River Waterfront. It will create jobs and spark tourism in our area, which will inject millions of dollars into the Chester community. We know that when one business succeeds- so do other businesses in the area. As sports groups and spectators visit this new sports complex- many will stay at local hotels, enjoy some of our great local restaurants, visit convenience stores, and fill up their gas tanks. It sparks economic growth. 

This project is also an important investment in our youth. It creates a premier destination for local youth groups to fall in love with sports. And thousands of hours per year will be donated to local community groups to utilize the facility for soccer, football, lacrosse, and basketball practices and games. It will be a beautiful and safe place for kids to enjoy sports and for families to cheer on young athletes. 

The project will also bring the Philadelphia Union Academy and YSC Academy to one campus, furthering the commitment to youth development and the player-to-pro pathway.

This project is an example of the continued commitment and partnerships that lead to extensive positive changes for the Chester community. Council commends WSFS Bank and the Riverfront Alliance of Delaware County for their partnership with the Philadelphia Union. They are creating a legacy for the Chester community and sparking exciting and positive changes for the Chester waterfront.

Delaware County Council was honored to participate in the statue dedication ceremony honoring Chester native Fredia Gibbs, a Cabrini alumna, women’s basketball standout, World Kickboxing Champion, and recent graduate of Cabrini University and inductee of the Cabrini Sports Hall of Fame.

Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer presented Ms. Gibbs with an honorary resolution during the ceremony, attended by  alumni and members of the community , commending and congratulating her for her success, leadership, and inspiration to young women across the County. 

Ms. Gibbs continues to inspire young girls with her message of overcoming diversity and rising to excellence and the bronze statue at Cabrini College will serve as a reminder to all young women that with hard work and dedication they can achieve anything.  

Notably, she is also the first female athlete in Pennsylvania honored with a statue.

Ms. Gibbs, nicknamed “Cheetah” during her playing days at Temple and Cabrini, continues to hold several Cavalier records, has the three highest single-season totals for points and steals, three of the top four single-season assists records, and two of the three best single-season rebounds tallies in Women’s Basketball program history. She totaled 2,395 points, 901 rebounds, 680 assists, and 318 steals during her three seasons at Cabrini. After an honorable mention in 1986, Gibbs was one of only 10 Division III players to be named a Kodak All-American following her 1987 season.

Once called “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World” after becoming the first African American woman to hold the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) world kickboxing title. Her professional kickboxing career began with eight straight victories, including the 1994 ISKA World Championship. She then went on to win World Kickboxing Association and WCK Muay Thai world titles and later enjoyed great success in women’s professional boxing with a 9-2-1 record.

The sculpture of Ms. Gibbs was created by sculptor Jennifer Frudakis-Petry, of Doylestown.

Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul joined Senator Amanda Cappelletti, Senator Tim Kearney, State Representative Chris Quinn, and members of the land conservation community at the Hildacy Preserve in Media on October 5 to announce a $640 million investment in conservation, clean water, and open space. 

Members of the Brandywine Conservancy, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Legacy Land and Water Partners, Natural Lands, Neighborhood Gardens Trust, Willistown Conservation Trust, Wissahickon Trails, who have been valued partners and share in the County’s commitment to conversation efforts and protecting green space, also joined in the celebration. 

These groups, along with local legislators, and members of the County team have worked together collaboratively to secure funding and formulate sustainable plans that protect and improve our environment, our community, and our health. 

Thank you to Natural Lands for hosting today’ celebration and bringing together various stakeholders who have a shared commitment and passion for green space in Delco. 

Delaware County Councilman Richard Womack, Jr., joined State Senator John Kane, elected officials from the City of Chester, representatives from PECO, Kaboom!, Widener University, the Chester Education Foundation, the Natural Lands Trust, and members of the community at a ribbon cutting celebration for a new playground at Sun Village Park in Chester.

The new playground is a collaborative effort by community members, including children, who presented creative ideas for their dream playground during a design day this past July. The playground is inspired by those drawings and will provide children and their families with a place to be active, build social bonds, and gather as a community. 

More than 100 volunteers installed the new playspace, which will benefit more than 500 local kids a high-quality, safe place to play that is close to where they live and learn.

“Delaware County Council is committed to the preservation of our parks and expanding open space for residents to enjoy,” said Councilman Richard Womack. “Parks like this give residents the space for physical activity and relaxation, and greatly adds to our quality of life.”

PECO has provided support for the new playground through its partnership with KABOOM!, furthering its commitment to ending playspace inequity. Since 2008, PECO has invested over $430,000 and partnered with KABOOM! to build six playgrounds across the country with the volunteer support of more than 500 employees. 

Playgrounds are important for the development of children in many ways. Playgrounds offer emotional, social, mental, and physical benefits to children of all ages. They also help children work on fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and coordination. 

The new playground at Sun Village—designed with the neighborhood’s unique needs and aspirations in mind—brings Chester one step closer toward ending playspace inequity and ensuring that every kid has the opportunity to experience the joys of childhood.

Delaware County Council was honored to join members of law enforcement and leaders of faith-based organizations from across the county during a Peace, Justice, & Unity Walk on October 7.

The walk, organized by Delaware County Sheriff Jerry Sanders, Media Borough Police Department, Second Baptist Church, and the Delaware County Chaplains was an initiative to include Delaware County law enforcement, faith-based organizations, and the community in the National Faith & Blue event, which takes place October 7-10 this year.

Faith & Blue was launched to facilitate safer, stronger, more just, and unified communities by directly enabling local partnerships among law enforcement professionals, residents, businesses, and community groups through the connections of local faith-based organizations. The initiative aims to 

re-calibrate police and community relations through activities that are organized jointly by faith-based or other community groups and law enforcement agencies.

Delaware County kicked off the weekend with a Peace, Justice, & Unity Walk that began at 

the Second Baptist Church in Media, down State Street and ended at the Delaware County Courthouse. 

Thank you to Law Enforcement Chaplains of Delaware County Bishop Febus AM Hunter 

and Theresa Agostinelli, Rev. Mays from the Second Baptist Church, Media Borough Police Acting Chief Matt Egan, Delaware County Sheriff Jerry Sanders, and District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer for organizing and coordinating the event. Thank you to the dozens of members of the community who participated in an effort to improve police and community relations and create a safer, stronger, more just, and unified community. 

Several police departments across the county are also planning similar events in their community this weekend. 

Learn more about the National Faith & Blue program here:

https://faithandblue.org/

Active members of the U.S. Navy and Navy Veterans are invited to join County officials in the raising of the U.S. Navy flag on Thursday, October 13 at 1:00 p.m. in front of the Courthouse located at 201 W. Front Street in Media. 

The flag will be raised to commemorate the anniversary of the U.S. Navy which was established on October 13, 1775. It will fly from the flagpole in the courtyard of the Government Center and Courthouse complex for a week. 

Throughout the year, the County raises flags in honor of all branches of the military and invites active members of the military and Veterans to join in the flag raisings. The Army flag was raised in June, the Coast Guard flag was raised in August, and the Air Force flag was raised in September to commemorate the anniversaries. The U.S. Marine Corps flag will be raised November 1.

Council expresses deep gratitude to those who have served or are serving in the military protecting and defending our country.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, October 13, at 7 pm to identify and discuss the unmet needs within communities impacted by Hurricane Ida. This meeting is open to members of the public and will be hosted at the Delaware County Dept. of Emergency Services, Room 101, located at 360 North Middletown Road, Media, PA, 19063.

The United States Congress, following disaster declarations by the Governor and President, has allocated $23.152 million to assist the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in rebuilding and recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Ida. Before these funds can be utilized, the state must prepare and submit an action plan that identifies the unmet need remaining in the affected communities and propose activities - projects, and programs to build back better.

In order to ensure this plan accurately reflects the needs and vision of those affected, undertaking a broad community outreach effort to individuals, businesses, organizations, and agencies in the counties most affected by the impacts of Hurricane Ida.

Delaware County Govt Official 2022 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website