Declared Candidate Responds to Residency Questions

Julie Morris, who has declared that she will be an independent candidate for the 36^th House of Representative District this November responded on social media to questions about her residency. Milford Times reported last week that Morris’ voter registration, changed in September 2025, was located an address in the 33^rd Representative District.

“Kim Wills knows our history. She knows the conversations we have had, the time we spent working together, and the friendship we built since the Annette Billings eminent domain issue. We talked nearly every day with Trish Marvel about city issues, prepared for meetings together, and worked side by side through the Homeless Action Committee. That is why this feels like such a betrayal,” Morris posted on her 36^th Representative Candidate page. “To see someone I considered a close friend now making statements like this, is both shocking and deeply insulting. I never expected this from someone who knew me personally and knew the truth of our history. I had permission to use 2 Sunset Lane as my address because I was staying there briefly. I also stayed at 210 East Street. I returned to 21142 Cedar Beach well before November. Those are the facts.”

According to Wills, whose address is 2 Sunset Lane, Morris never lived at her address and, since her home is in a trust for her disabled husband, was not permitted to do so. Wills confirmed that Morris has only been to her home a handful of times and has never lived there.

“What is hardest to understand is why this is being turned into a political attack at all. If the goal is to help Bryan Shupe or to interfere with my run in the 36th District, then people should be honest about that instead of twisting personal circumstances into something they were not,” Morris continued. “I am disappointed, but I am not going to let false narratives define me. The people who know me know my character. And if Bryan Shupe or anyone else tries to claim I cannot run for District 36, I will fight it in court. Voters deserve better than personal smears, political games, and low tactics from people who should know better.”

The owner of the home on East Street did not respond to questions regarding how long Morris lived at the address. However, voter registrations indicate that Morris changed her address from 21142 Cedar Beach Road to 2 Sunset Lane on June 13, 2025. Wills stated she received a voter registration card at her address with Morris’ name and called her to ask why she received it. According to Wills, Morris told her she was “testing something” and would change it back.

Morris’ address remained at 2 Sunset Lane, which is in the 36^th, for three months. Voter registrations then show Morris changed her address to 210 East Street on September 12, 2025. Both changes were made at the Department of Motor Vehicles. According to DMV, the only way to change voter registration at their agency is if the person changes their driver’s license to the new address. It was confirmed by DMV officials that Morris changed her driver’s license to both Sunset Lane and East Street. Morris claims she was required by her employer to change her drivers’ license when she moved to the other addresses.

As late as November 11, 2025, Morris used the East Street address when she spoke during public comment and public hearings at city meetings, including Board of Adjustments, Planning Commission and City Council. On February 13, 2026, Morris changed her voter registration back to 21142 Cedar Beach Road. A review of current voter rolls show that Morris is now registered at Cedar Beach Road and that the change was completed on February 13, 2026.

According to the Department of Elections, a candidate running for state representative must have been domiciled in the district where they plan to run for one full year. In addition, when filing to run for an office they do not currently hold, the candidate must provide an affidavit of candidate residency form which must be notarized as well as proof of home ownership in the form of a deed, mortgage billing statement or other document verifying primary residence. If the home is in the name of a trust, partnership or corporation, the candidate must provide a notarized affidavit that the candidate resides there. If the home is rented, the candidate must provide a lease agreement.

In addition to those documents, the candidate must provide a copy of a currently valid motor vehicle registration or driver’s license. The Department of Elections can review voter registrations to confirm residency as well.

Based on voter registration records, Morris should not be eligible to run for the 36^th Representative District. In her social media post, she claims to have lived temporarily at 210 East Street which is not in the 36^th district. Her license and voter registration were at that address from September 2025 until February 2026, which means she has not lived in the 36^th for at least one year.

The situation also brings to light a flaw in the voter registration system in Delaware. According to DMV, once an individual obtains a driver’s license in Delaware, they are permitted to change the address on their driver’s license with no proof that they actually live at that address.

“All new applicants and out-of-state transfer requests require two proofs of residence dated within the last 60 days to ensure the applicant is a resident of this state. After a Delaware driver license or ID is issued, if a customer moves, they must change their address within 30 days,” Amy Anthony, of DMV, said in an email. “However, a change of address does not require additional documentation per our current regulation.  The individual has already proved they are a resident of this state, so they can change their address by submitting it online, through a self-service kiosk, or in-person at any of our four DMV locations.”

Although the change of address may indicate the individual lives in Delaware, allowing a change of address without proof can have implications in state and local elections. Municipalities use state election registrations for council and mayoral elections. Morris’ address on Cedar Beach Road is not in city limits. However, East Street and Sunset Lane are within city limits which would have allowed Morris to vote in city elections even if she was not living within city limits.

Morris has changed her story somewhat since the story broke last week. When asked for the initial story, Morris stated emphatically that she lived in the 36^th.

“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,” she stated.

When asked about the discrepancies with voter registration, she confirmed that her address was on Cedar Beach Road.

“I have already stated that my primary residence is in District 36. Your question involves prior address and voter registration records, and I am not going to respond off the cuff,” Morris said. “I am reviewing the documentation and will respond further once I have done that. For clarity, I was never under oath when I gave an address during public comment.”

Morris has not yet filed to run for the 36^th Representative seat currently held by Bryan Shupe but continues to state that she plans to do so. The deadline to file is in July.