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How to vote in District of Columbia
Registration deadlines, ID, mail and early voting in District of Columbia, in plain English, with the official links. The District of Columbia Board of Elections is the final word on every rule.
| Register online | Yes: Received by the 21st day before Election Day. |
|---|---|
| Register by mail | Received (not postmarked) by the Board by the 21st day before Election Day. |
| Register in person | At the Board or a voter registration agency by the day before early voting starts; after that, register at a vote center. |
| Same-day registration | Yes: register and vote at any early vote center or Election Day vote center with proof of residence. |
| Voter ID | Registered voters do not need ID; first-time voters who registered by mail or online without proof of residence must provide ID or proof of residence. |
| Voting by mail | All-mail elections: every registered voter is mailed a ballot, which must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 10 days. |
| Early voting | In-person early voting at any early vote center for about a week before Election Day (October 26 to November 1 in 2026). |
Checked against the District of Columbia election office's website on November 8, 2026. Deadlines are for general elections; primaries, runoffs and local elections can differ. Military and overseas voters have their own rules at FVAP.gov.
Official sources
- https://www.dcboe.org/
- https://www.dcboe.org/voters/register-to-vote/register-to-vote
- https://www.dcboe.org/voters/register-to-vote/register-update-voter-registration
- https://www.dcboe.org/voters/casting-your-vote/mail-ballot-instructions
- https://www.dcboe.org/voters/casting-your-vote/voting-by-live-ballot
- https://dcboe.org/faqs/early-voting-and-election-day
- https://www.dcboe.org/getContentAsset/5a9ceeda-114c-4171-810d-1317c9e06b0e/5ebbd046-860b-4ee1-81c8-43d0e3bc446e/_-DCBOE-Voter-Guide-Web-Smaller-File.pdf?language=en
- https://www.dcboe.org/getContentAsset/4d04f4a1-fb2a-4f8a-809f-d3f708f232df/5ebbd046-860b-4ee1-81c8-43d0e3bc446e/2026-General-Election-Calendar-Version-09292026.pdf?language=en
- https://apps.dcboe.org/VRS
- https://vr.dcboe.org/213324797239968?agency_code=12
Next
- Find who represents you in Congress and in the District of Columbia legislature.
- Voter registration and civic groups in District of Columbia.
- Every state's rules.