Candidate Residency Questioned

Additional information has been provided by the Department of Elections for this story. We have added that information.

A few weeks ago, Julie Morris announced her independent candidacy for the Delaware House of Representatives District 36. However, statements Morris has made at Milford City Council meetings, and a review of her voter registration records have called into question whether she is eligible to run in that district.

Morris frequently comments during the 15-minute public comment portion of city council, planning commission and Board of Adjustment meetings. Before speaking during those sessions, individuals must give their full name and address. Morris has also spoken during public hearings at meetings where she is also required to give her name and address. In addition, anyone speaking at a public hearing is sworn in, so all comments are considered under oath.

When Morris began speaking out at council meetings, she listed her address as 21142 Cedar Beach Road. This address is within the 36^th district but is not within city limits. Then, sometime in 2025, she began stating her address as 74 Cedar Beach Road, also in the 36^th and within city limits. A search of property records in Sussex County revealed that the property there is owned by John E. Morris whose physical address is 21839 Shockley Road. He has owned the property since 2008. Prior to that, the property was owned by Brownlow and June Morris, who, according to Julie Morris, were her grandparents.

In September 2025, Morris began using the address 210 East Street in Milford. A search of Kent County property records indicate that home is owned by Johanna Marie Truax, who purchased the property in 2022. A search of rental licenses issued in Milford found no record of a rental license for that address.

“At City Council, multiple other addresses were referenced during public comment, but my actual primary residence is 21142 Cedar Beach Road in District 36 and has been for many years,” Morris stated when asked about the various addresses. “I also attached [to an email] the only rule I found referencing an address during public comment. That language is not in the Milford Charter itself. I understand people will have opinions regardless, but I want to make sure the facts are presented accurately.”

Morris is correct that there is nothing in the city charter about public comment rules. This is because the public comment statute is part of state law passed under then-Governor John Carney in March 2020. That statute does not have a requirement that speakers use their address, but it has been the practice in Milford for quite some time.

The issue with Morris’ address goes farther than her comments at city meetings, however. A review of her State of Delaware election records found that Morris has changed her address to vote in federal, state and local elections three times over the past two years. On June 13, 2025, Morris changed her address to 2 Sunset Lane in Milford. The property owner at that address has filed a complaint with the Delaware Department of Elections as Morris never lived at that address and was not given permission to use it as an address for voting.

“I was alerted that she used the address when I randomly got a voters card for her,” the property owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said in an email to the Department of Elections. “She told me she would correct it. I learned she did not for months. Julie has resided at her 21142 Cedar Beach address as long as I have known her. She and her husband live together and have been married, not going through any separation or domestic issue that I am aware of.”

On September 12, 2025, Morris again changed her voter registration address to 210 East Street. This address is in the 33^rd Representative District, not in the 36^th district. It was not until February 13, 2026, that she changed it back to 21142 Cedar Beach Road.

“I have already stated that my primary residence is in District 36,” Morris responded when asked about her voter registration. “Your question involves prior address and voter registration records, and I am not going to respond off the cuff. I am reviewing the documentation and will respond further once I’ve done that.”

According to the Department of Elections, anyone who changes their voter registration must provide documentation of their identity and proof of address.

“As detailed on the Voter Registration – Department of Elections – State of Delaware, individuals wishing to register to vote are to provide documentation of their identity and address with their application,” Anthony Albence, State Election Commissioner, said. “Also, such information is also to be submitted when a currently registered voter wishes to update their registration information, such as their address.”

According to Albence, his understanding is that the address updates undertaken by Morris were in connection with transactions at the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Morris has repeatedly been asked to provide information on why and how she made the changes but has not yet provided a response to those questions.

In order to run for a seat in the Delaware House of Representatives, an individual must have been domiciled within the district they will represent for at least one year. The Delaware State Constitution Article II §3 states “No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of 24 years and have been a citizen and inhabitant of this State 3 years next preceding the day of the person’s election; and the last year of that term an inhabitant of the Representative District in which the person shall be chosen, unless absent on the public business of the United States or this state.”

In addition to concerns about whether Morris is eligible to run for the 36^th district, it highlights significant problems with voter registration in the State of Delaware. The state allows voters to register at DMV when they renew their license, online or in person. When registering to vote or updating voter records outside of DMV, an individual must provide a copy of their Delaware driver’s license or state issued identification or may simply provide a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address.

According to the property owner at Sunset Lane, she was unaware that Morris had registered there until she received the voter registration card in the mail. She reached out to Morris and was told that Morris was “testing something and would change it.” Morris should not have had any documents indicating she lived on Sunset Lane. In addition, other residents of Milford have provided information that Morris told them to simply change their driver’s license in order to vote in city elections even though they lived outside city limits.

“For clarity, I was never under oath when I gave an address during public comment,” Morris said.

Although Morris was not under oath at city council meetings during the public comment portion of the meeting when she used the East Street address, she also used it during public hearings. Anyone speaking at a public hearing is sworn in. Although the address is stated prior to the swearing in, it is still considered under oath based on the law. According to the Justice Department, knowingly and willfully providing a statement that is false and presented with the intent to deceive is considered perjury.

Morris could also face criminal charges if she registered to vote at an address where she did not live. According to Delaware Title 15 Chapter 51 Subchapter II §5128(7) states “whoever, at any general or special election knowingly, willfully or fraudulently does any unlawful act to secure an. Opportunity for himself or herself or for any other person to vote shall be fined not less than $50 or more than $200, or imprisoned not less than 30 days or more than 2 years, or both.”

At this time, Morris has not registered to be a candidate for the 36^th district but announced she would be filing closer to the July deadline. There has also not been a federal, state or local election during the period when Morris was registered to vote at addresses other than Cedar Beach Road which means that Morris did not vote using the address on Sunset Lane or East Street.