Voting in Washington, D.C.

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Election Information


2025 election and voting dates
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

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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 for election agencies.

Click here for more information about election administration in Washington, D.C., including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

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

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

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 September 2024. Click here to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Forms of identification include:

A copy of a current and valid government-issued photo identification
A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck (dated no earlier than 90 days before the date upon which you mail your application or, if you do not submit proof by mail or online, 90 days before the date you vote)
Any other government-issued document^[3]

”

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/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

As of September 2024, the District of Columbia used all-mail voting.^[4]

According to the D.C. Board of Elections, voters did not need to request a ballot unless they expected to be away from their D.C. residence during the election.^[4]

Requests for absentee/mail-in ballots must be received no later than the fifteenth day before the election. Ballots are delivered 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

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.

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 election administration 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

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