FAQS

The General Election is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. 

You may vote at any Vote Center during early voting and on Election Day.  Remember to bring proof of your new address with you.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DC Board of Elections has developed the Vote Safe DC campaign.
 
The BOE is developing safety protocols to protect voters and election workers in consultation with the CDC and other leading federal agencies to make voting as safe as possible. Therefore, the Board will only operate 80 Vote Centers during the voting period (October 27 - November 2) and on Election Day, November 3, 2020.

Yes. Just make sure not to leave the Sample Ballot or notes in the voting booth after you have finished voting. You can throw the Sample Ballot or notes away in any trash/recycling bin outside of the Vote Center.

Yes. Feel free to bring a relative, friend, or neighbor to assist you, as long as they’re not your employer, an election observer, or union representative. DCBOE Voter Assistance Clerks will also be on hand to help at every Early Voting Center and Election Day Vote Centers.

The D.C. Board of Election provides language access services for customers/voters who are limited or non-English proficient (LEP/NEP). Under the Language Access Act of 2004, we are required to provide language assistance in Amharic (አማርኛ), Chinese (中文), French (Français), Korean (한국어), Spanish (Español) and Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt). However, we also offer a full range of professional interpreting services via LanguageLine, more than 9,000 highly trained interpreters who are fluent in over 240 languages and American Sign Language Interpreters (ASL) for Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing constituents.

1. Need help in your language? Call (202) 727-2525
2. Amharic: በቋንቋዎት እርዳታ ማግኘት ይሻሉ? በስልክ ቁጥር (202) 727-2525 ይደውሉ።
3. Chinese: 需要以您的语言帮助？拨打Call (202) 727-2525
4. French: Avez-vous besoin d'aide dans votre langue ? Appelez le (202) 727-2525.
5. Korean: 모국어로 도움이 필요하세요? (202) 727-2525로 전화해주세요
6. Vietnamese: Cần sự trợ giúp ngôn ngữ của bạn? Hãy gọi (202) 727-2525
7. Spanish: ¿Necesita ayuda en su idioma?  Llame al (202) 727-2525

Registered voters do not need to present proof of residence to vote, however it is encouraged that you take some form of identification with you to vote in case you need it.

If you will be registering during the Early Voting period or on Election Day, you will need to provide proof of residence in order to register and vote. If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail and did not provide proof of residence when registering, you will need to show proof of residence in order to cast a live (regular) ballot.

Acceptable forms of proof of residence include the following (must include the name and address of the voter):

• Copy and valid District of Columbia DMV-issued ID 
• Government check or paycheck*
• Bank statement*
• Current utility bill (does not include cell phone)*
• Student housing statement/tuition bill
• Homeless shelter occupancy statement
• Lease
• Other government document that shows your name and address

Yes. Write the candidate's name next to “Write-in” on the ballot. Make sure to also circle-in the oval next to “Write-in” in order for your vote to count.

Notify an Election Worker immediately. They will cancel that ballot and provide you with a new ballot. You can use up to three (3) ballots (including your initial ballot) if you make any mistakes.

If an individual whose eligibility to vote in the election cannot be determined at an Early Voting Center or at the Vote Center on Election Day, they may vote by Special Ballot. Once the Board determines they are eligible to vote in this election, their vote will be counted.

A person would have to vote a Special Ballot if they:

• Have already checked-in to vote prior to Election Day (during Early Voting) or on Election Day
• Have submitted an application for an Absentee Ballot
• Have returned a voted Mail in Ballot
• Are required to show identification or proof of residence to complete registration, but do not provide it
• During a Primary Election, claim a different party affiliation status than that which is reflected on their voter registration
• During a General Election, claim a different ANC/SMD than that which is reflected on their voter registration
• Have had a challenge to their eligibility to vote upheld by the Vote Center Coordinator or a Board hearing examiner
• Are voting during hours extended by either a Board or court order

Individuals who register same-day, change their address (with valid proof of residence), or change their name are referred to the Special Ballot Clerk, but will be able to vote a live (regular) ballot.

At 5:00 pm on the second day after each election, you can go to the Board’s website, www.dcboe.org, or call 1-866-DC VOTES (1-866-328-6837), to learn of the Board’s preliminary determination to either count or reject your Special Ballot.  If necessary, you may challenge the Board’s decision not to count your Special Ballot by scheduling a hearing that will take place on the Thursday after Election Day.

All Special Ballots that have been determined to be valid are counted even if they do not change the outcome of the election.

You do not have to request an Absentee Ballot.  The Board is mailing every active registered voter a ballot via the United States Postal Service. 
 
You can use the request form to change the address as to where you want the mail in ballot sent to. Once you have completed the form, print and sign it, and return it to the Board by mail, email, or fax. All mailed or faxed Absentee Ballot Applications must be received no later than seven days before an election.

Yes. Call our office immediately at (202) 727-2525 and one of our team members will mail another one to you. Make sure your voted and mailed ballot is postmarked or otherwise demonstrated to have been sent on or before Election Day. Mailed ballots must arrive no later than the 7th day after Election Day to be counted.

Yes. Simply go to any Early Voting Center OR any Vote Center on Election Day. You can bring the ballot with you and vote it there. If you have already returned your ballot, you will be issued a Special Ballot.

Any registered voter in the District of Columbia may seek either to propose a law by placing an Initiative measure on the ballot, or to suspend an act of the Council by placing a Referendum measure on the ballot. The process has several steps, which are defined by law. For a complete account, see DC Official Code §§ 1-204.101 through 1-204.106 and 1-1001.16. For more information on the initiative process and other legal inquiries, please call the Board’s Office of the General Counsel at (202) 727-2194.

To be a Permanent Absentee Voter, simply check the appropriate box on the Absentee Ballot Application or send a written request to our office at 1015 Half Street, SE, Suite 750, Washington D.C. 20003.