How to Vote in Washington, D.C.’s 2024 Elections
Important dates and election information
- Deadline to register to vote online or by mail: Tuesday, Oct. 15
- Deadline to request a mail-in ballot be sent to a different address: Monday, Oct. 21
- Deadline to return a mail-in ballot by drop box or in person: Tuesday, Nov. 5, by 8 p.m.
- Early voting: Monday, Oct. 28, to Sunday, Nov. 3
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5
Voting at a glance
- Voter registration: Register to vote online and by mail. Use the District’s online portal check your registration status.
- Mail-in voting: All active, registered voters will be sent a no-excuse mail-in ballot.
- Early voting: Cast your ballot early and in person from Monday, Oct. 28, to Sunday, Nov. 3, at vote centers throughout the city.
- Vote centers: Find locations on the D.C. Board of Elections website.
Recent changes to voting in Washington, D.C.
Qualified non-citizen residents of D.C. can now vote in D.C. elections for local offices. Non-citizens cannot vote for federal offices. Check the D.C. Board of Elections website for more information and details on how to register to vote.
How to register to vote
- Online: Use the District’s online portal to register. You also can check your registration status, or update your name, address and party affiliation.
- By mail: Download an application from the D.C. Board of Elections website, print and complete it, and mail it to the D.C. Board of Elections at 1015 Half St. SE, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20003.
- By fax or email: Fax your application to 202-347-2648 or email a scanned version or a picture of your application to DCRegistrations@dcboe.org.
- In person: Pick up an application at the D.C. Board of Elections or at most D.C. public libraries. Mail it to be received by Tuesday, Oct. 15, or deliver it in person to the D.C. Board of Elections office by Tuesday, Nov. 5. The D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles also offers automatic voter registration when applying for or renewing your driver’s license or a non-driver’s identification card.
Those registering to vote for the first time and submitting an application by mail or online should include a copy of a valid photo ID, utility bill or other government document with your name and address. Check the D.C. Board of Elections website for a list of acceptable IDs.
Registering to vote on Election Day
Same-day registration is available at early vote centers during the early voting period or on Tuesday, Nov. 5, which is Election Day. You must bring proof of residence, such as your driver’s license, U.S. passport or a current utility bill. Check the D.C. Board of Elections website for a list of acceptable IDs.
Check your voter registration status
You can check your registration status using the District’s online portal, where you also can update your name, address and party affiliation.
How to request a mail-in ballot
All registered voters will be mailed a no-excuse mail-in ballot. Those who will be away from home during the election period can request an absentee ballot be sent to a different address by Monday, Oct. 21. Make the request:
- Online: Complete the mail-in ballot request application and submit it online.
- By mail or phone: Download and complete a mail-in ballot request application, sign it, and return it to the D.C. Board of Elections by mail or by fax at 202-347-2648. You may also email your application as a scanned attachment to DCabsentee@dcboe.org. Call the D.C. Board of Elections office at 202-727-2525 to request that an application be mailed to you.
- In person: Request a mail-in ballot at the District’s Board of Elections office at 1015 Half St. SE, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20003.
Returning a mail-in ballot
Place your completed ballot inside the secrecy sleeve, then place the sleeve inside the postage-paid return envelope. Sign and date the voter’s oath on the back of the envelope.
- By mail: Mail your completed ballot to the address on the envelope. It must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, Nov. 5, and must arrive at the D.C. Board of Elections office by Friday, Nov. 15.
- In person: Return your completed ballot to a vote center by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
- Drop box: Place your completed ballot in a drop box by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail or online, you must include a copy of one acceptable ID document with your completed mail ballot, such as a valid photo ID,utility bill or other government document with your name and address. Place a copy of the ID document inside the return ballot envelope. If you don’t provide a copy of your ID document, your ballot will be treated as a special ballot and will not be counted unless you submit a copy of your ID to the Board of Elections.
Use the city’s Board of Elections’ online tracker to check the status of your ballot.
Voting in person before Election Day
Early voting for the general election will be held Monday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 3.
Find a list of early vote centers on the District’s Board of Elections website or here.
Early vote centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting at the polls on Election Day
Vote centers are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Search for your vote center on D.C.’s Board of Elections website or here.
Sample ballots will be available at the D.C. Board of Elections website.
Voter ID requirements on Election Day
You only need to show ID at the polls if you are a first-time voter who submitted a voter registration application without a copy of an acceptable ID document.
Voting with a disability
You can bring someone to the polls to help you vote but that person cannot be your employer or from your union.
You can vote in person using accessible touchscreen voting equipment. The ExpressVote ballot marking system allows voters to have their ballot read to them and use a touchscreen to mark a ballot.
If you have difficulty entering a voting center, you can vote from your car at all vote center locations.
You also can request an accessible mail-in ballot that you can complete online, print and return electronically or by mail, drop box or vote center. To request to use the Accessible Remote Ballot Marking System, complete a form available on the D.C. Board of Elections website where you also can learn more about the system.
Voters living in a nursing home or long-term care facility can vote in person or by using a mail-in or absentee ballot.
Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on Jan. 26, 2024, and has been updated with new information about voting in the 2024 elections.
Maura Kelly Lannan is a writer, editor and producer for AARP who covers federal and state policy. She has worked as a reporter for the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and the Waterbury, Connecticut, Republican-American. She also has written for Bloomberg Government, The Boston Globe and other publications.
