2024 WASHINGTON DC VOTER GUIDE

     

    1. Voter Registration

    Deadline to Register/Update: October 15, 2024

    (Same-day registration is available in person on election day)

    REGISTER ONLINE

     

    2. Check Your Registration

    Why check your registration? Your address is where election officials send notices, application forms to receive your ballot in the mail, and more. Additionally, poll workers will check if the address on your voter registration matches the address on your ID at the polls.

    Check Your Registration

    Update Your Registration

    Checklist:

    • Is your name spelled correctly? (Correct hyphenations, middle initials, etc)
    • Correct Address
    • Active Voter Status (if not update by sending in another online/mail voter application)
    • Correct Date of Birth
    • Correct Political Party Preference
    • Take a time-stamped photograph or screenshot of your registration, and take it with you to the polls as proof of your registration.

     

    3. Voter ID Law

    Source: Ballotpedia

    Washington, D.C. does not require identification from most voters. The District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE) requires voters who submitted their voter registration application by mail or online without one of the following documents to present one the first time they vote.

    This list was current as of May 2023. Click here to ensure you have the most current information.

    Acceptable forms of proof of residence include the following (must include the name and address of the voter):

    • Valid District of Columbia DMV-issued ID
    • Government check or paycheck*
    • Bank statement*
    • Current utility bill (does not include cell phone)*
    • Student housing statement/tuition bill
    • Homeless shelter occupancy statement
    • Residential Lease
    • Other current government document that shows your name and address

    *The issue, bill, or statement date must be within 90 days of Election Day

     

    4. Order Your Absentee Mail Ballot

    All ACTIVE VOTERS will receive a mail in ballot at their registered address beginning ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

    Please be sure to check your registration (see above) and confirm you are an active voter and your registered address is correct.

    You DO NOT HAVE TO REQUEST an absentee ballot.

    Only fill out this form if you want the ballot sent to a location other than your registered address:

    Request an Absentee Ballot

    Deadline to return Absentee Mail Ballot: Must be postmarked on or before Election Day November 5, 2024

    Track Your Mail-in Ballot

    If you don’t believe your mail-in ballot will be received on time, ballots can be mailed or delivered in-person to DCBOE offices, dropped off at any Early Voting Center until the published deadline, or dropped off at any polling place on Election Day.

    Surrendering Your Absentee Ballot:

    • The District of Columbia does not have the Surrender Rule. However, the polling place official has some discretion to decide if you will vote with a regular ballot or “Special Ballot,” their term for provisional ballots.
    • People registering on Election Day to vote in person will vote with a regular ballot. If you bring your unvoted absentee ballot to surrender at the polling place, they may will accept it and allow you to vote with a regular ballot. If you don’t have that absentee ballot to surrender, however, and pollbooks show that you received an absentee ballot, you will be given a special ballot, which will be tabulated after Election Day.
    • Source: https://www.dcboe.org/Voters/How-to-Vote/Special-Ballot-Voting

    “Voting by Special Ballot”

    • The Check-In Clerk will determine whether you are eligible to cast a live (regular) ballot or whether you must cast a Special Ballot (D.C.’s version of a provisional ballot), which will be tabulated after Election Day.
    • You may be required to complete a Special Ballot for any of the following reasons:
      • You are marked as an “Absentee Voter”
      • The pollbook shows you have received an Absentee Ballot for this election. If you have not already voted, your Special Ballot will be counted.

     

    5. Early Voting Information

    • The District of Columbia Board of Elections allows voters to cast ballots at early voting poll sites from October 28 – November 3, 2024. For locations and hours visit https://earlyvoting.dcboe.org.
    • District of Columbia Board of Elections is mailing every registered qualified voter a ballot for the November 5 General Election.
    • For more information contact the DC Board of Elections online:https://dcboe.org and by phone 202.727.2525 or toll free 1.866.DC.VOTES.

     

    6. Be A Poll Worker

     

    7. Additional Questions?

    https://www.dcboe.org/Elections/2020-Elections#