Voting in Washington, D.C.

Election Information
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, absentee/mail-in and early voting provisions, voter registration requirements, and more, dictate the conditions under which citizens cast their ballots in their individual states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Washington, D.C.:

• Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
• In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
• Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
• Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
• Contact information election agencies.

See Election administration in Washington, D.C. for additional information about election administration, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

The table below displays voter registration information specific to Washington, D.C.'s 2024 election cycle.

Eligibility and registration details

To register in D.C., an individual must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of D.C. for at least 30 days before the election, and not claim residence in any other state or territory. Pre-registration is available starting 16 years old, but all voters must be 18 by Election Day in order to vote.

Voters may register online or by mailing, emailing, or faxing in a voter registration application. Voters may also register in person at a voter registration agency. The deadline to register to vote is 21 days before the election, but in-person registration is also available during the early voting period and on Election Day with proof of residency.^[1]

All first-time registrants must provide proof of residency in order to register to vote. Click here for a list of accepted documents.

In-person voting

The table below displays in-person voting information specific to Washington, D.C.'s 2024 election cycle.

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

Polls in D.C. are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.^[2]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Washington, D.C. does not require identification from most voters. The D.C. Board of Elections requires voters who submitted their registration applications online or by mail to present one of the following documents the first time they vote.

This list was current as of May 2023. Click here to ensure you have the most current information.

Early voting

See also: Early voting

D.C. permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Washington, D.C.'s 2024 election cycle.

As of May 2023, the District of Columbia used all-mail voting.^[4]

According to the D.C. Board of Elections, all active registered voters were mailed a ballot for the 2020 and 2022 elections. However, D.C. voters who expected to be away from their D.C. residence during the election were required to request an absentee ballot: Mail Ballot Request Form. Voters DID NOT have to request an absentee/mail-in ballot unless they planned to be away from their D.C. residence during the election.^[4]

Requests for absentee ballots must be received no later than the fifteenth day before the election. Ballots are delivered to absentee voters by mail. Completed absentee/mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the seventh day after the election.^[4]

Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

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Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Washington, D.C., people convicted of a felony and currently incarcerated retain their right to vote.^[5]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.^[6]

Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in D.C. can contact the following local and federal agencies.

District of Columbia Board of Elections

1015 Half Street SE, Suite 750

Washington, DC 20003

Phone: 202-727-2525

Toll free: 1-866-DC-VOTES

Fax: 202-347-2648

Email: director@dcboe.org

Website: https://www.dcboe.org

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.

Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:

• Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
• We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
• And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan

The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.

• The Ballot Bulletin: July 19, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: July 12, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: June 28, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: June 21, 2024
• The Ballot Bulletin: June 14, 2024

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See also

• 2024 election dates and deadlines
• Voter ID in Washington, D.C.
• Election administration in Washington, D.C.
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Washington, D.C.

External links

• D.C. Board of Elections
• U.S. Vote Foundation election official lookup tool

Footnotes

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