Did you know companies can vote in Delaware?

August 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In Fenwick Island, Delaware—a tiny beach town roughly one mile from tip to tip—companies and trusts are allowed to vote in local elections. The ACLU sued over this practice, but the case was dismissed, and an appeal is now before the state supreme court. As the town’s mayor, Natalie Magdeburger, put it: “One of the things that was most disturbing to me to hear is that somehow somebody thought that corporations were taking over Fenwick. And that's just so far from the truth.”

How a vacation town ended up letting non-humans vote

Fenwick Island was incorporated in 1953 as a seasonal community that opened on Memorial Day and closed on Labor Day. From the start, all property owners aged 21 or older could vote in local elections—including people whose homes were second or vacation properties. Delaware is one of 11 states that permit some form of non-resident voting.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:18) **The Unusual Voting Rights Fight in Fenwick Island, Delaware** - A tiny beach town allows corporations and trusts to vote in local elections, sparking a legal battle with the ACLU.
2 (02:14) **Fenwick Island's History and the Origin of Non-Human Voting** - The town's seasonal, vacation-home roots led to a unique voting system that expanded in 2008.
3 (04:53) **The Mayor's Defense: "The Purest Form of Democracy"** - Mayor Magdolberger argues that anyone who pays taxes in the town should have a say in local governance.
4 (06:51) **The State Legislator's Push to Ban Non-Human Voting** - Delaware State Representative Carrie Evelyn Harris proposes a bill to ban non-human voting statewide, arguing it dilutes human voices.
5 (07:56) **Expert Analysis: A Historian's View on Voting Rights** - Harvard professor Alex Caesar provides historical context, dismissing the "no taxation without representation" argument for corporations.
6 (09:47) **The Current Status and a Closing Defense** - The episode concludes with the mayor reiterating that the system works for Fenwick Island, even if it wouldn't work elsewhere.
7 Standout Quotes

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Fenwick Island, Del. has only around 900 people on its voting rolls, but some of those registered voters are not human. Many are family trusts and a few are companies. The town says its system works for its tiny beach community. So why are some lawmakers trying to stop it?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

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