How to vote in District of Columbia
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Received by 21 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 15 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 15 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
District of Columbia voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your District of Columbia registration using the District of Columbia voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in the District of Columbia you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a District of Columbia resident at least 30 days preceding the next election
- be 18 years old by Election Day (if you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election)
- not have been judged legally incompetent by a court of law
- not claim the right to vote anywhere outside DC.
You can register to vote online if you have a District of Columbia driver license, driver permit, nondriver ID card or a Social Security Number. If you do not have DC issued identification or a Social Security Number, you can still register to vote online, but you may have to provide identification that shows your name and current address the first time you vote.
- Visit the District of Columbia online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 21 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Federal law now requires that all voter registration applications must include either the applicant’s driver’s license number or the last four digits of the applicant’s social security number in order to be processed.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received by 21 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your DC driver's license or ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or Federal Government or one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Summary: District of Columbia has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your DC driver's license or ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or Federal Government or one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are retained while in prison. You do not lose the right to vote.
- You can vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
District of Columbia absentee and mail ballot guide
- The District of Columbia will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of the 2022 elections.
- If you need to update your mailing address temporarily -- because you will be out of town for a specific election -- request a one-time absentee ballot.
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 15 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 15 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
- The District of Columbia will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of the 2022 elections.
- If you need to update your mailing address temporarily for a specific election, request a one-time absentee ballot.
- Visit the District of Columbia absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 15 days before Election Day.
- Download the District of Columbia absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 15 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 15 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
If you are a first-time voter, you must include your drivers license number, any current government-issued photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government‐issued document that shows your name and address
Track your ballot here: District of Columbia absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, or if your signature does not match the signature DC has on record for you.
- You'll have until the 7th day after Election Day to cure a defective ballot.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
District of Columbia law has no mention of emergency ballots.
Dates & Deadlines
District of Columbia does not offer emergency ballots.
Contact your local election office
District of Columbia early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 8 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
Most DC voters do not need to show ID. First time DC voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Student ID is acceptable as long as it was issued by an accredited college or university.
District of Columbia voter ID guide
Most DC voters do not need to show ID. First time DC voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Student ID is acceptable as long as it was issued by an accredited college or university.
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
If you are a first-time voter, you must include your drivers license number, any current government-issued photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government‐issued document that shows your name and address
You can register to vote online if you have a District of Columbia driver license, driver permit, nondriver ID card or a Social Security Number. If you do not have DC issued identification or a Social Security Number, you can still register to vote online, but you may have to provide identification that shows your name and current address the first time you vote.
Bring your DC driver's license or ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or Federal Government or one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for District of Columbia elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
District of Columbia Board of Elections 1015 Half Street, SE, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20003
External resources
References
- District of Columbia early voting information
- District of Columbia absentee ballot information
- District of Columbia voter registration information
- District of Columbia voter ID information
- District of Columbia student voter information
- District of Columbia voting rights restoration for voters with felony convictions
- District of Columbia election code