Delaware Governor vetoes part of municipal election reform law

Delaware Governor Jack Markell has sent a veto message to the House of Representatives explaining why he vetoed part of a law that reformed municipal elections. 

 

The Governor vetoed House Substitute #1 to House Bill 33, which would have permitted Delaware’s Election Commissioner to invalidate the results of a municipal election or cancel an election.  Local councils would have been given the ability to appoint candidates to municipal office in the event of a tie at the polls.  “HS 1 to HB 33 does clarify the law in some important respects.  However, after careful review I have concluded that HS 1 to HB 33 has the potential to introduce further uncertainty and dispute into the municipal election process,” Governor Markell said.  Lawmakers passed the bill after a year in which a Delaware City election ended in a tie and there was no provision to settle the deadlock.  Another municipal election had to be canceled due to a snowstorm.  Markell said he would continue to work with lawmakers, local governments, the Department of Elections and the Attorney General’s office on municipal election reforms.