How to vote in District of Columbia

• Register to vote (online): N/A
• Register to vote (by mail): Received 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 tool.
• If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.

• You can register to vote online if you have a DC driver's license, driver permit, or DC-issued ID card. If you're on a desktop, you will be required to upload your signature. If you're on a mobile device or a tablet, you will need to sign the form via touchscreen.
• Visit the District of Columbia online voter registration tool.
• 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 N/A.

1. Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
5. 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.
6. Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your Local Election Office.
7. Your voter registration form must be received 21 days before Election Day

1. Contact your Local Election Office to find where to register to vote in person.
2. Bring your DC driver's license or DC ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or federal government, and bring 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.

• Earliest day to apply: January 1, 2020
• Request deadline (online): N/A
• Request deadline (by mail): Received 7 days before Election Day
• Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day

In almost all cases, you will need to sign up to vote by mail. The state won’t just mail you a ballot. Don't worry: we will walk you through it. There are only a handful of steps:

1. You submit an application to vote by mail.
2. Your Local Election Office processes your application.
3. Your Local Election Office sends your ballot to you.
4. You vote using the ballot and return it by the deadline.

1. Download the District of Columbia absentee ballot application.
2. Fill out all of the required fields.
3. Print the application.
4. Sign and date your application. This is very important.
5. Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your Local Election Office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
6. 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.
7. The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 7 days before Election Day.

1. Visit your Local Election Office.
2. Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
3. Fill out all of the required fields.
4. Sign and date your application.
5. The deadline to apply in person is: 7 days before Election Day.

1. Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
2. Sign and date the outside envelope.
3. Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your Local Election Office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
4. If you mail your ballot, it must be Received by Election Day.
5. If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be Received by Election Day.
6. 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: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.

• Early voting starts: N/A
• Early voting ends:
• 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.

• 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: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.