District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics

• Voter Information
  • Register to Vote in DC
  • Update your Registration Info
  • Re-print Previous Voter Registration Request
  • Check your Registration Status
  • Find your Polling Place
  • Request an Absentee Ballot
  • Check your Special Ballot Status
  • General Information for Voters
    • History of Voting in DC
    • Offices on the Ballot
    • Primary and General Elections
    • Voting Equipment
    • Voter's Rights
    • 17 Year Old Residents May Pre-Register to Vote
• Election Information
  • Election Year 2008
  • Election Results
    • Election Year 2006
    • Election Year 2004
    • Election Year 2002
    • Election Year 2000
    • Election Year 1998
    • Election Year 1997
    • Election Year 1996
    • Election Year 1994
  • Election Day Workers
    • General Information
    • Payment
    • Recruitment Program
    • Apply to be an Election Day Worker
  • Pollworker Video Training
  • Polling Place Listing
  • Election Year Archives
    • Election Year 2006
    • Election Year 2004
• Candidate Information
  • Current Elected Officials in DC
    • Delegate to the House of Representatives
    • Mayor
    • Council of the District of Columbia
    • DC State Board of Education
    • US Representative
    • US Senators
    • Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners
  • Historic Elected Officials in DC
    • Delegate to the US House of Representatives
    • Mayor of the District of Columbia
    • Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 1 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 2 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 3 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 4 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 5 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 6 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 7 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • Ward 8 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
    • US Senator
    • US Representative
    • Length of Initial Terms Following First Home Rule Election
    • Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners
  • ANC Commissioners
  • Campaign Finance
    • General Information
    • Link to ocf.dc.gov
  • Information for Candidates & Political Parties
    • The Hatch Act Prohibition
    • The Election of President and Vice-President of the US
    • Documents Candidates Must File
    • Legal Qualifications for Offices
    • Signature Requirements
    • Challenge Period
    • Watchers
    • Guidelines for Placing and Removing Campaign Posters
    • Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners
    • Political Parties
• Voter Registration Stats
  • Voter Registration Statistics
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
    • 2005
    • 2004
    • 2003
  • Registration Data Requests
• DCBOEE & Regulations
  • About the Board
    • Board Members
    • Meeting Schedule
    • Mission Goals
  • Regulations
    • 3 DCMR Chapter 4: Hearings
    • 3 DCMR Chapter 10: Initiative and Referendum
    • 3 DCMR Chapter 11: Recall of Elected Officials
    • 3 DCMR Chapter 16: Candidates
  • General Counsel
    • 2008 Administrative Orders
    • 2007 Administrative Orders
    • 2006 Administrative Orders
    • 2005 Administrative Orders
    • 2004 Administrative Orders
    • 2003 Administrative Orders
    • 2002 Administrative Orders
  • Initiative Referendum Process
    • Guide to Initiative and Referendum
    • Initiative Measure No. 65 - Support for a Public Hospital in the District of Columbia
    • Initiative Measure No. 66 - DC Smoke free Workplaces Initiative of 2004
  • DC HAVA Plan
  • Recall Process
• Newsroom
  • News
  • Events
  • Announcements

History of Voting in DC

Citizens of the District of Columbia gained the right to vote in presidential elections with the passage of the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution in 1961 making the 1964 presidential election the first time that DC residents voted for President of the United States. Before that (since 1936), DC residents voted only for party officials and delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

• Board of Education
• Delegate to the House of Representatives
• Mayor and District Council
• Advisory Neighborhood Commissions
• Initiative, Referendum, and Recall
• United States Senator and Representative

Board of Education

In 1968, residents were granted the right to vote for an elected Board of Education. Under the law creating the school board, one member would be elected from each of the eight wards, and three would be elected at-large. All 11 members serve four-year terms.

Delegate to the House of Representatives

In 1970, the "District of Columbia Election Act" was amended by Congress to allow DC residents to elect a Delegate to the House of Representatives. The first primary for this office was held in January 1971, with the general election held in March. The District's Delegate to the House does not have a vote on the House floor, but may vote in Committee.

Mayor and District Council

The Home Rule Charter was approved in late 1973, allowing DC residents to elect a Mayor and 13member District Council. Under the Charter, one councilmember is elected from each of the eight wards, while the Chairman and four remaining members are elected at-large. Both the Mayor and the members of the DC Council hold four year terms. The first Home Rule elections were held in 1974.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissions

The first Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) elections were held in February 1976 Under the law, each ANC Single Member District (SMD) is comprised of approximately 2,000 residents. Commissioners serve two-year terms and receive no salary. There are 299 Single Member Districts in the District of Columbia. They are grouped into 37 Commissions.

Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

The Initiative, Referendum, and Recall Procedures Act of 1978 gave voters the right to file a measure for consideration on the ballot. A detailed explanation of the Initiative, Referendum, and Recall process is included.

United States Senator and Representative

US Senator and US Representative are local offices, created through an Initiative Measure. The first elections for these offices were held in 1990.

DC Board of Elections and Ethics
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 250 North
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: (202) 727-2525 | TTY: (202) 639-8916 | Tollfree: 1-866-DC-VOTES