How to vote in District of Columbia
District of Columbia voter registration guide
District of Columbia voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Received 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
Check your District of Columbia voter registration status
- 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.
District of Columbia voter registration rules
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.
District of Columbia online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have a DC driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
- 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 .
District of Columbia by-mail voter registration
- 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 21 days before Election Day .
District of Columbia in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your District of Columbia driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and District of Columbia address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
District of Columbia same day registration
- 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.
Registering to vote in District of Columbia with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
District of Columbia absentee and mail ballot guide
District of Columbia absentee ballot overview
- 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.
District of Columbia absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 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
District of Columbia absentee ballot rules
- 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.
District of Columbia online ballot request (recommended)
- 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 .
District of Columbia by-mail ballot request
- 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 15 days before Election Day .
District of Columbia in-person ballot request
- 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 .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. 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 hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
District of Columbia absentee ballot ID requirements
- 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
District of Columbia early voting guide
District of Columbia early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 8 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
What to bring
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
ID requirements for voting in person
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.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail 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
ID requirements to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have a DC driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
ID requirements for same day registration
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 & Ethics 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20001‐2745
External resources
- District of Columbia online voter registration
- District of Columbia online absentee ballot request
- District of Columbia voter status lookup
- District of Columbia absentee ballot tracker
- District of Columbia provisional ballot tracker
- District of Columbia polling place locator
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