District of Columbia Voting Requirements & Information

U.S. Vote Foundation’s District of Columbia Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of District of Columbia voting rules and options. It focuses on District of Columbia-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about District of Columbia voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-District of Columbia voting tools. It's an all-in-one District of Columbia voting resource.

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

District of Columbia Federal and State Elections

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - District of Columbia Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue May 14, 2024
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue Jun 4, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Mon May 20, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Fri Jun 14, 2024

Early Voting Available

Early Voting

No early voting on Memorial Day.


From Sun May 26, 2024 to Sun Jun 2, 2024

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - District of Columbia Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue May 14, 2024
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue Jun 4, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Mon May 20, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Fri Jun 14, 2024

Early Voting Available

Early Voting

No early voting on Memorial Day


From Sun May 26, 2024 to Sun Jun 2, 2024

General Information

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • online
  • by mail
  • in person at your local election office
  • at the polls on Election Day
  • at some public assistance offices and motor vehicle offices

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 7am until 8pm on Election Day.

Find my polling place

Early Voting

No earlier than ten days prior to an election qualified electors may register to vote and cast full ballots at any ward-based early voting center. Early voting centers are open every day during this period between the hours of 8:30am and 7:00pm.

Absentee Voting

DC is now a Vote-by-Mail system. All registered voters will automatically receive Absentee Ballots at their home addresses. You only need to apply for an absentee ballot if you will be away from your voting residence during the election.

Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to vote in District of Columbia if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are a resident of District of Columbia
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

You must live in district at least 30 days to be eligible to vote. You may vote in a primary at age 17 if you will be 18 by the date of the General Election

You are NOT eligible to vote in District of Columbia if:

  • You are registered to vote in another state
  • A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.

After a 2020 change, people who are incarcerated for any reason can now always vote in Washington, D.C.

You may preregister to vote in District of Columbia

  • At the age 16

If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in District of Columbia if:

  • You reside in District of Columbia but are attending college in another state
  • You reside in another state but attend college in District of Columbia

Identification Requirements

Voter Registration

To register to vote in District of Columbia you should provide one of the following:

  • Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Your District of Columbia Driver's License or State non-driver ID Number

If you are registering to vote for the first time by mail, you will need to provide a copy of a valid ID. Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • Current and Valid Photo ID
  • Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Government Check, or Paycheck that Shows your current name and address
  • Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address

You can alternatively show one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.

Voting In-Person

If you registered to vote in District of Columbia, you may be required to present valid ID if you are voting for the first time or your registration is incomplete. You can use any ID from this list:

  • Paycheck that shows your Current Name and Address
  • Utility Bill
  • Bank Statement
  • Valid District of Columbia Driver's License
  • Valid District of Columbia Non-driver's ID
  • Government Check
  • Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
  • University Tuition Bill
  • University Housing Bill
  • Lease
  • Letter from a homeless organization verifying your residence location for purposes of voter registration

Statements, checks and bills should be dated no earlier than 90 days before Election Day. School documents must be from a DC institution.

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Domestic Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

District of Columbia Federal and State Elections

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - District of Columbia Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Received by
Tue May 14, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Sat Jun 1, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Fri Jun 14, 2024

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - District of Columbia Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Received by
Tue May 14, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Sat Jun 1, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Fri Jun 14, 2024

Eligibility Requirements

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Identification Requirements

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Overseas Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

Military Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?