Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

If you are 16 years of age, or older, you may register to vote.  If you are 17, you may vote in a Primary Election as long as you will be 18 years old by the General Election.

If you would like DCBOE to hold a student registration drive at your high school, please email [email protected] for more information. We will hold registration drives at public, private, charter and parochial schools.

High school students over the age of 16 may serve as Student Election Worker on Election Day and during the Early Voting period.  You can elect to receive a monetary payment for the day, or community service hours, or both!

Students who are 16-17 years of age can complete and return the Student Election Worker Application to apply.

Students that are 18 years of age or older are considered ‘Adult Students’ and have greater earning potential. Students who are 18 + can complete and return the Adult Student Election Worker Application to apply.

If you are attending college in DC, you may vote absentee in your home state, or you may register and vote in DC as long as you have resided in DC for 30 days before the election.  Your college or university housing statement, or any utility bill or government issued document, may serve as proof of your DC address.

Full list of acceptable proofs of address:

• A copy of a current and valid government-issued photo identification
• A utility bill for water, gas, electricity, cable, internet, telephone, or cellular phone service issued no earlier than 90 days before the election
• A savings, checking, credit, or money market account statement from a bank or credit union issued no earlier than 90 days before the election
• A paycheck, stub, or earning statement that includes the employer’s name, address, and telephone number and was issued no earlier than 90 days before the election
• A government-issued document or check from a federal or District agency, other than the Board of Elections, issued no earlier than 90 days before the election
• A current residential lease or rental agreement
• An occupancy statement from a District homeless shelter issued no earlier than 90 days before the election
• A tuition or housing bill from a District of Columbia college or university issued for the current academic or housing term

To register to vote in DC, please visit the Register/Update Voter Registration page.

If you would like the Board of Elections to visit your college or university, please email [email protected].  

We also encourage DC college students to work the polls on Election Day.  Download our Election Worker application and follow the instructions to apply.

If you live in DC, but are attending college in another state, you may still vote as a DC resident by requesting an Absentee Ballot.  Please note that all Absentee Ballot requests must be received no later than the 15^th day before an election.