Oddusee Civic Guides · Verified July 2026
Three things that make voting in D.C. different: (1) The Board of Elections automatically mails a ballot to every registered voter — no request needed. (2) You can register and vote the same day at any vote center, and there is no photo-ID requirement for registered voters. (3) New for 2026, D.C. uses ranked-choice voting — rank candidates in order of preference.
📍 Register / Update registration | Check your status | Find a vote center
Key dates — November 3, 2026 General
- Registration deadline (online/mail): received by Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (21 days before). Same-day registration is available at any vote center through Election Day — bring proof of D.C. residency.
- Mail ballots sent: to every registered voter starting on or about September 28, 2026. Return postmarked by Election Day; accepted through November 13. Drop boxes open October 9 – November 3.
- Early voting: October 26 – November 1, 2026, 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM daily.
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Any registered voter can use any vote center citywide.
Dates can change — always confirm at the official calendar linked below.
Can I vote?
You can register and vote in D.C. if you are a U.S. citizen, have lived in D.C. at least 30 days, and will be 18 by the general election (17-year-olds who turn 18 by the general can vote in the primary; 16-year-olds can pre-register).
- Felony conviction or currently incarcerated? You can still vote. Under the Restore the Vote Amendment Act of 2020, D.C. residents keep the right to vote even while serving a felony sentence.
- Not a U.S. citizen? Since 2024, non-citizen D.C. residents may vote in local elections only (Mayor, Council, Attorney General, State Board of Education, ANC, and local measures) — not federal races.
The ID you need
Registered voters do not need photo ID at the polls. First-time voters who registered by mail without ID, and anyone registering same-day, should bring proof of D.C. residency (DMV ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, lease, or government document showing name and address, dated within 90 days).
Primary & ranked choice
D.C. holds closed primaries — you must be registered with a party to vote in its primary. The 2026 primary was held June 16, 2026 and set the November nominees. There are no runoffs. Independents can vote in primaries starting 2028. Ranked-choice voting (Initiative 83) is new for 2026.
Where to vote
D.C. uses a vote-center model — vote at any center citywide, early or on Election Day. Curbside and accessible voting are available at every location. Real vote centers span all eight wards (Columbia Heights Community Center, School Without Walls, UDC, Ida B. Wells Middle School, Turkey Thicket, Eastern Market, Deanwood, Anacostia High School, and more). Confirm the finalized 2026 list with the live locator.
Find a drop box | Official 2026 calendar & sample ballots
The offices D.C. residents elect
Current officeholders as of July 2026 (verified). D.C. is a federal district — no county offices, and no elected judges, sheriff, or prosecutor.
District government
- Mayor: Muriel Bowser (not seeking a 4th term; 2026 Democratic nominee: Janeese Lewis George)
- Attorney General: Brian Schwalb
- Council Chairman: Phil Mendelson
- Council At-Large (4): Anita Bonds (retiring), Robert C. White Jr. (2026 Delegate nominee), Christina Henderson (I), Elissa Silverman (I) (won July 2026 special election)
- Council Wards 1–8: W1 Brianne Nadeau (retiring); W2 Brooke Pinto; W3 Matthew Frumin; W4 Janeese Lewis George (mayoral nominee); W5 Zachary Parker; W6 Charles Allen; W7 Wendell Felder; W8 Trayon White Sr. (federal bribery trial set for Sept 2026)
State Board of Education (9 members)
- President (At-Large) Jacque Patterson; W1 Ben Williams; W2 Allister Chang; VP/W3 Eric Goulet; W4 T. Michelle Colson; W5 Robert Henderson; W6 Brandon Best; W7 Eboni-Rose Thompson; W8 LaJoy Johnson-Law
Federal & statehood delegation
- U.S. House Delegate (non-voting): Eleanor Holmes Norton (retiring; 2026 nominee: Robert C. White Jr.)
- Shadow U.S. Senators: Paul Strauss & Ankit Jain
- Shadow U.S. Representative: Oye Owolewa (running for at-large Council)
Hyperlocal
- Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs): about 300 single-member-district seats citywide — you elect the commissioner for your own SMD. Every seat is on the 2026 ballot.
Learn more
- D.C. Board of Elections (dcboe.org) — official registration, deadlines, vote centers, and sample ballots.
- League of Women Voters of D.C. — nonpartisan voter guides.
- VoteRiders — free help getting a voter ID.
Always confirm dates and locations with the D.C. Board of Elections — rules and deadlines can change between elections.