Washington, D.C
How to vote in DC: Everything to know, including registration info and deadlines
It’s almost Election Day, and it’s time to make sure you are registered and know where, when and how to cast your ballot in Washington, D.C.
Here’s a breakdown of important dates to know, Election Day information, and what to know about voting in the District in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024.
2024 DC voter registration info
Online or by mail: The deadline passed on Tuesday, Oct. 15 for D.C.’s Board of Elections to receive your voter registration application online or by mail — but you can still register during early voting or on Election Day.
To register when you vote, you must provide proof of residence that shows your name and current District of Columbia address. Acceptable forms of proof of residence include:
- A copy of a current, valid government-issued photo ID
- A utility bill for water, gas, electricity, cable, internet, telephone or cellphone 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 phone number (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
In person in advance: You also have the option to register in-person at the D.C. Board of Elections office or at a voter registration agency. If you submit your application in person at any of those locations, your application should be received no later than the day before the start of the early voting period on Monday, Oct. 28.
Same-day registration: You may also register in person with proof of residency at Early Vote Centers or at your polling place on Election Day. See the above list for acceptable forms of proof of residency.
How to check if you’re already registered: If you think you’re already registered but want to make sure, you can check on the DC Board of Elections website. You can also update an existing registration on the DC Board of Elections website.
How to get a mail-in ballot in DC
The D.C. Board of Elections automatically sends mail-in ballots to all registered D.C. voters. The board began sending these out on Sept. 30, election officials said.
How to submit a mail-in ballot in DC
Here are your options for submitting your completed mail-in ballot:
- Bring it to any Vote Center during early voting or on Election Day. Early Vote Centers will be open from Monday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 3, between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Election Day Vote Centers will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 5 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. You may deposit your ballot return envelope at any Vote Center during those days and times, without waiting in the in-person voting lines.
- Return it by mail. Your filled-out ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5) and received by the Board of Elections office no later than the 10th day after Election Day.
- Bring it to a ballot drop box — you can find drop box locations on the DC Board of Elections website.
The District has 55 ballot drop boxes, which opened Friday, Oct. 11. The boxes will be open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. Election officials will securely collect ballots daily.
You can look up locations of ballot drop boxes on the DC Board of Elections website.
How to vote via absentee ballot in DC
Requesting an absentee ballot: Registered D.C. voters automatically receive an absentee ballot in the mail. The deadline to request a general absentee ballot somewhere other than your usual address was Monday, Oct. 21, but uniformed and overseas citizens have until Nov. 2 under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
Submitting an absentee ballot: The deadline is Nov. 15 for the D.C. Board of Elections to receive completed absentee ballots, postmarked on or before Election Day, from voters.
How to vote early in-person in DC
You can vote early in person from Monday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 3, between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. at an early voting center. Addresses and details for D.C.’s early voting centers are on the DC Board of Elections website, including information on parking and the closest Metro stations to each.
Election Day 2024
The 2024 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls that day will be open in D.C. from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 8 p.m., you will be able to vote.
Voters in D.C. may cast their ballots at any vote center, regardless of their residential address. Addresses and details for all of D.C.’s Election Day vote centers are on the DC Board of Elections website.
Same-day voter registration is available in D.C., and you can find more information on same-day registration on the DC Board of Elections website.
DC voter ID rules
If your pollbook is marked as “ID REQUIRED,” that indicates you must show identification to vote because the DMV-issued number or the last four digits of the Social Security Number you provided on your registration application could not be verified.
The check-in clerk at your polling place will be able to determine if an ID is required for you to cast your vote. If ID is required but you do not have an acceptable form of ID with you, you may be asked to cast a special ballot and show proof of your ID to the Board of Elections within two days.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- A copy of a current and valid government-issued photo identification
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck (dated no earlier than 90 days before the date that you mail your application — or, if you do not submit proof by mail or online, 90 days before the date you vote)
- Any other government-issued document
Who’s on the ballot in my area of DC?
In addition to the presidential race, D.C. voters will select candidates for D.C. Council members and nonvoting and shadow members of Congress. If you’re not sure what ward of D.C. you live in, you can check on the city’s Office of Planning website.
Look up candidate lists for your jurisdiction on this document provided by the District of Columbia Board of Elections.
Washington, D.C. (7News) — Rosselli is the newest restaurant to open in DC.
Bringing in classic Italian flavors, Chef Carlos explained how he hopes his food is a unique addition to the Italian food scene in the DMV.
Chef also demoed a signature dish with Brian and Megan.
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You can learn more and book your table here.
Washington, D.C
DC Navy Yard shooting: What happened in Washington? ‘Targeted attack’ feared as scary visuals emerge
A shooting reportedly took place in Washington DC’s Navy Yard on Thursday, and visuals from the scene were shared online. Independent journalist Nick Sortor shared a clip saying “Heavily armed US Capitol Police officers are RACING to a reported shooting in the vicinity of a high-ranking US government official in Washington, DC’s Navy Yard.”
Sortor noted that US Capitol Police were rushing to the scene. He noted that the black SUV seen in the clip was an armored Chevrolet Suburban which was used by members of the Congress and members of the President’s cabinet. Sortor further reported that it was ‘unclear’ if the attack was targeted.
The alleged shooter is reportedly not in custody yet and police are searching the area. “I personally witnessed that official be EXTRACTED via undercover Capitol Police officers, protected by uniformed officers carrying long rifles. I will not name the official without their express permission, as I don’t want to dox their home. Other officers can be seen sweeping the area for evidence like shell casings,” Sortor further said.
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The DC Police Department and the US Capitol Police are yet to comment on the matter.
Navy Yard shooting: Reactions and fears
Several people wondered about the politicians who live in the Navy Yard neighborhood. Grok, the AI chatbot, helped out, saying “Publicly reported ones include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—she’s been living in a Navy Yard apartment for years. The area’s also drawn younger congressional staffers and some Trump admin folks in the past for the modern housing near the river. Can’t list “all” though—most officials’ exact homes aren’t public for obvious security reasons.”
It added “No, no current Trump cabinet members are publicly reported as living in DC’s Navy Yard neighborhood. Several senior officials (SecState Marco Rubio, SecDef Pete Hegseth, AG Pam Bondi, ex-DHS Sec Kristi Noem) have moved into secure military housing at Fort McNair or Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling for safety. Noem previously rented in Navy Yard but relocated. Exact private residences aren’t public record.”
To be sure, the name of the official has not been released yet, so Grok’s answers are only guesses based on public record or past information. One wild claim was made on X that the shooting ‘targeted Donald Trump’. However, this came from an unverified profile and no corroboration was provided. President Trump is not publicly known to be in the Navy Yard area, rather remaining in the White House when he is in Washington.
The news of the DC Navy Yard shooting comes days after a takeover by a teen mob. The unruly incident saw four teenagers charged with disorderly conduct, reports on April 12 noted.
President Donald Trump’s design for the Triumphal Arch he wants built at an entrance to the nation’s capital moved a step forward Thursday after a key agency reviewed the proposal for the first time. One commissioner suggested changes, including losing the Lady Liberty-like statue and pair of eagles that would sit on top of the arch and add to its height.
The arch is one of several projects that the Republican president is pursuing alongside a White House ballroom to leave his lasting imprint on Washington.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted to approve the concept design for the arch. Its members, all appointed by Trump, will review an updated design before taking a final vote at a future meeting.
Trump said last week on social media that the arch “will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World” and a “wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!”
President Trump proposed the installation of a large arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge, on the D.C.-Virginia border. “Something’s supposed to be here,” he said he’s been told. News4’s Joseph Olmo reports.
The commission also approved design concepts for two other projects: Trump’s plan to paint the gray granite exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is next to the White House, white, and construction of an underground center to conduct security screenings of tourists and other guests. It will review updated designs for both at a future meeting.
Triumphal Arch
The arch would stand 250 feet tall (76 meters) from its base to a torch held aloft by a Lady Liberty-like figure atop the structure. That figure would be flanked up top by two eagles and guarded at the base by four lions — all gilded. The phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would be inscribed in gold lettering atop either side of the monument.
The commission’s vice chairman, architect James McCrery II, said he preferred the arch without the figure and eagles on top. McCrery also objected to the lions on the base.
The arch would be built on a human-made island managed by the National Park Service on the Virginia side of the Potomac River at the end of Memorial Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The arch would dwarf the Lincoln Memorial, which is 99 feet (30 meters) tall, and be close to half the height of the Washington Monument, an obelisk that is about 555 feet (169 meters) tall.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the arch’s 250-foot height will honor America’s 250 years of existence.
A group of veterans and a historian has sued in federal court to block construction on the grounds that the arch would disrupt the sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery, among other reasons.
Underground screening center for White House visitors
The U.S. Secret Service, Interior Department, National Park Service, and the Executive Office of the President want to start construction in August on a 33,000-square-foot (3,066-square-meter) center to screen tourists and other visitors to the White House.
It would be built beneath Sherman Park, federal land southwest of the White House, to provide a more secure place to screen those going on White House tours or attending events. The new facility would have seven lanes to ease processing and reduce wait times.
Officials want it operating by July 2028, six months before Trump’s term ends.
Eisenhower Executive Office Building paint job
Trump said the Executive Office Building is beautiful, but he does not like its gray exterior.
“It’s one of the most beautiful buildings anywhere in Washington,” Trump said in August. “I think it’s just incredible, but you have to get past the color because the stone they used was a really bad color.”
Two proposals were given to the commission: Cover the entire building in bright white or paint most of it white while leaving untouched the granite on the exposed basement and subbasement.
In written materials, the White House said the building has been largely neglected since its construction. It said the building’s color, design and massing do not “align visually with the surrounding architecture” and lack ”any symbolic cohesion with the White House.”
The paint job is also the subject of litigation in federal court.
The building sits across a driveway from the West Wing. It was completed in 1888 after 17 years of construction, and its granite, slate, and cast iron exterior makes it one of America’s best examples of the French Second Empire style of architecture.
It originally housed the departments of State, War and Navy. It currently houses offices for the vice president and the National Security Council, among others.
The building is a National Historic Landmark and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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