How to vote in my state

District of Columbia

Last updated August 30, 2022

Upcoming Election Dates and Registration Deadlines

November 8, 2022

District of Columbia General Election
Voter Registration Deadline
  • Post received: October 18, 2022
  • In-person request by: November 8, 2022
  • Online request by: October 18, 2022
Mail-in Ballot Request Deadline
  • DCBOE begins sending mail-in ballots to all registered voters: October 3, 2022
Completed Mail-in Ballot Return Deadline
  • Postmarked: November 8, 2022
  • In-person received: November 8, 2022
Early Voting: October 31 to November 6, 2022

Helpful Resources

Register
to vote

Check if you are registered

What's on your
ballot

Absentee (Mail-in) Voting

All registered voters may vote by mail.

  • To ensure that you receive your mail-in ballot at the correct address, it is critical that you CHECK and UPDATE (if necessary) your voter registration.
  • Mail ballot drop boxes will be distributed to 55 locations throughout the District, and will be open to voters starting in October. Once mail ballot drop boxes open, voters will be able to return their voted mail-in ballots to any mail ballot drop box location until 8:00 p.m. ET on November 8.
  • Voters may also return their voted mail-in ballot via USPS (must be postmarked by November 8 and received by the Board of Elections no later than November 15), or in person at any Vote Center during the Early Voting period or on Election Day.

First-time voters who registered by mail or online are required to provide following ID documents with your voted mail ballot:

  • A copy of a current and valid government‐issued photo ID; OR
  • A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government‐issued document that shows your name and address. The issue, bill, or statement date must be no earlier than ninety (90) days before the election.

See Mail-in Ballot Drop Off Boxes here

DC voters who expect to be away from their DC residence during the election must request an Absentee Mail-In Ballot

Early Voting

Early voting varies as the period is set by the Board of Elections, but not more than 10 days before the election.

Find DC’s early voting days and an early voting center

What to Expect
on Election Day

On Election Day, polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM EST. 

Find your polling location.

Voter ID Requirements

You do not need an ID to vote in DC.

Certain polling stations may require a form of identification; you are encouraged to bring a form of identification.

If you are not registered to vote, you may do so at any vote center providing that you show acceptable proof of residence. Acceptable forms of proof of residence include:

  • Current and valid District of Columbia DMV issued ID
  • Government check or paycheck*
  • Bank statement*
  • Current utility bill*
  • Student housing statement/tuition bill
  • Homeless shelter occupancy statement
  • Lease
  • Other government document with your name and address

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

See more details here

Language Access

Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain jurisdictions to provide in-language voting materials in areas with a significant number of limited English proficient voters.

Section 208

Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act states that, “Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of the employer or office or agent of the voter’s union.” 

It is your right to bring your own interpreter to the polls, if you so choose. 

Have questions or need help voting?

Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683).

Bilingual assistance is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali. Click here for more information.