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VOTING IN WASHINGTON DC

Voter Eligibility - Who Can Vote?​

Under federal law, if you move within 30 days of a presidential election, you are allowed to vote for President and Vice President in your former state of residence, either in person or by absentee ballot. If you are registering to vote for this first time and submit the application by mail, you may be required to submit a current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address with this application or present it the first time you vote in a federal election. Your mailed application must be postmarked by the 30th day prior to an election for you to be eligible to cast a ballot; after that date, you can only register to vote in person.
  • Minimum Age To Vote: until they are at least 17 with a date of birth indicating that they will be 18 on or before the next general election.
  • Minimum Age To Register To Vote: You can pre-register to vote at 16.

To register to vote in the District of Columbia , an individual must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a United States Citizen
  • Be a legal Resident of the District of Columbia,
  • Be at least 16 years old but will not receive a voter registration card or be eligible to vote until they are at least 17 with a date of birth indicating that they will be 18 on or before the next general election.
  • Not in jail on a felony conviction
  • Not have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote
  • Do not claim voting residence outside of the District of Columbia

Ways To Register To Vote​

By Mail​

All voter registration applications (By Mail, E-Mail, Fax) and updates submitted by mail must be received by the Board by no later than the 21st day before the election in which you wish to vote.

In Person​

In person registration is available up to and including on Election Day.

Online​

District of Columbia enables residents to register through their online voter registration portal. The registration deadline is 21 days before the next election. If you miss this deadline, you may register in person at any Vote Center during early voting or on Election Day

Same Day Voter Registration​

Qualified individuals may register to vote at the polling place on Election Day. Individuals may register after the 30th day preceding an election including on Election Day. They may only register and vote on Election Day. DC ST § 1-1001.07

How Do I Know I'm Registered?​

  • Consider yourself registered when- and only when- you receive an acknowledgment from your county clerk.
  • Never assume you are registered to vote until you have received this acknowledgment.
  • Call your county clerk and inquire about the status of your application.
  • https://www.dcboe.org/voter_info/reg_status/

Military and Overseas Citizens​

Other ways to register to vote​

Ways To Vote​

Voters have the following 3 Options to vote:

Early Voting​

Early voting begins 12 days before election, but in-person absentee voting is available 15 days before an election and ends Saturday before election for early voting, day before election for in-person absentee.

Voting In Person at the Polls​

Make sure you vote at your polling place on Election Day

Voting By Mail​

D.C. conducts elections primarily by mail. Make sure you have the ballot that reflects your correct Ward. If you have the wrong ballot, contact us immediately at 1-866-DCVOTES (1-866-328-6837).

Voter Identification​

  • Voter Identification Law Enacted? NO

District Of Columbia has NO voter identification Law enacted​

  • Registered voters in DC are NOT required to show ID at the polls, except for some first-time voters. However it is encouraged that you take some form of identification with you to vote in case you need it. If you are a first-time voter but didn't bring your ID to the polling place, you may cast a Special Ballot. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must provide ID to the board of elections within two days after the election.

Registering during the Early Voting period or on Election Day​

  • If you will be registering during the Early Voting period or on Election Day, you will need to provide proof of residence in order to register and vote. If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail and did not provide proof of residence when registering, you will need to show proof of residence in order to cast a live (regular) ballot.

Voter Information Lookup​

  • Voter Information Lookup Tool​

  • Use this tool to:​

    • Check Your Voter Registration Status
    • Check Your Polling Place Location
    • View Your Sample Ballot
    • Check The Status Of Your Absentee Ballot
    • And more