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.
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 at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Have been a state resident for at least 30 days prior to the election
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 another state but attend college in District of Columbia
- You reside in District of Columbia but are attending college in another state
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 (Statements, checks and bills should be dated no earlier than 90 days before Election Day. School documents must be from a DC institution.):
- 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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
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 |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |