Senator Darius Brown presented Senate Bill 3 to the Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee as a constitutional amendment to give Delaware voters an absolute right to vote by absentee ballot without providing a reason.

Anthony Alban, State Election Commissioner, and Mark Petroma, director of the Division of Legislative Services, served as expert witnesses. Commissioner Alban told the committee the amendment would remove the requirement to cite a reason when requesting an absentee ballot and would preserve existing categories of permanent absentee status (for example military/overseas voters and those who are sick or disabled). "As the bill is drafted, this amendment . . . would remove the reason," Alban said. Committee members pressed officials on how ballots may be returned, whether the bill changes existing return methods, and whether the measure guards against large‑scale third‑party collection of absentee ballots.

Alban replied the amendment does not change current statutory return methods (mail, county office drop‑off or in‑person return) and that Delaware law historically has relied on the voter's self‑affirmation when requesting absentee ballots. Mark Petroma clarified that the bill’s list of permanent absentee reasons was drawn from existing statutory language and said he would verify the completeness of the statutory list for the record.

Public commenters urged passage of SB 3. Disability Rights Delaware and Community Legal Aid Society representatives said people with disabilities benefit from predictable absentee options. AARP and other civic and faith groups testified that no‑excuse absentee voting increases access for those with mobility or caregiving constraints. Several speakers recounted personal examples of voters denied absentee status under the current rules and urged the committee to pass SB 3.

Committee members discussed safeguards and administrative implications but did not take a committee vote during the hearing. The committee invited written comments into the public record through the deadline the clerk announced.