Your DC voting questions, answered.

You can check your current voter registration status, party affiliation, and polling place online through the DC Board of Elections.

It only takes a moment - make sure you're registered as a Democrat if you plan to vote in the Democratic primary.

Yes - if you are not already registered to vote in DC, you can use Same Day Registration during Early Voting or on Election Day. You will register and vote at the same time.

To do it, you'll need to bring proof of DC residence showing your name and current address - for example a government photo ID, a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or a current lease.

The deadline to change your party affiliation for the 2026 primary has passed. The last day to update your party registration was May 26, 2026.

DC runs a closed primary, so only voters registered as Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary. If you did not change your affiliation by the deadline, you will not be able to vote in this primary.

To register to vote in DC, you must:

• Be a DC resident for at least 30 days before the election
• Not claim the right to vote in another state or territory
• Be at least 17 (and 18 by the next general election) to vote in a primary
• Not have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote

If you register for the first time by mail or online, you may need to show ID or proof of address (photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document) the first time you vote.

Yes - in DC you can register and vote in the primary if you are at least 17 years old and you will be 18 by the next General Election.

The same registration deadline and party rules apply. Make sure you register by the deadline and, if needed, change your affiliation to Democrat so you can vote in the Democratic primary.

Yes - starting in 2024, qualified non-citizen DC residents can register and vote in local DC elections, under the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022. That includes this race for Mayor, plus Attorney General, DC Council, State Board of Education, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and local ballot measures.

Non-citizens cannot vote for federal offices (like President or Congress). To register you must:

• Be at least 17 (and 18 by the next general election)
• Have lived in DC for at least 30 days before the election
• Not claim the right to vote in any state, territory, or country
• Not have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote

There is a separate non-citizen voter registration form, available in multiple languages. To vote in the closed primary, the same party rules apply.

Starting with the June 2026 primary, DC uses Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in eligible contests with three or more candidates. You rank candidates in order of preference - 1st choice, 2nd choice, and so on, up to five.

• Fill in the oval for your 1st choice in the 1st column.
• Add a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th choice in the matching columns if you want - you don't have to.
• Don't give two candidates the same ranking, rank one candidate twice, or skip a ranking.

Ranking more candidates does not hurt your 1st choice. Only one vote counts per race - a later choice only matters if your 1st choice is eliminated.

See the full guide on how Ranked Choice Voting works →

In DC you can vote at any vote center - you are not limited to one near your home. Use the DC BOE locator to find early vote centers (June 8–14) and Election Day vote centers (June 16).

Election Day vote centers are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Fill in the ovals completely with a blue or black pen, then follow the steps that come with your ballot packet:

• Place your voted ballot in the secrecy sleeve (don't fold it to fit).
• Put the sleeve in the postage-prepaid return envelope - only your ballot.
• Sign and date the Voter's Oath on the back of the return envelope - your vote won't count without your signature.
• Seal the flap (no tape) and return it by mail or at a drop box.

First-time voters who registered by mail or online must include a copy of an accepted ID or proof of address inside the envelope.

Yes. DC BOE uses BallotTrax so you can sign up for notifications and follow your mail ballot from the moment it's sent to when it's received and counted.

DC BOE offers accessible voting options so you can vote privately and independently, plus language access materials in multiple languages.

For help, you can also call DC BOE toll-free at 1-866-DCVOTES (1-866-328-6837).