Get Ready to Vote

You can check the status of your mail-in ballot request here. If you requested a mail-in ballot and it hasn’t arrived, you are encouraged to vote in person by June 2. A poll worker at one of DC’s 20 voting centers will help you cast an in-person ballot and ensure you only vote once.

We recommended voting by mail to help everyone have a safe, healthy voting experience but we understand that some voters are not receiving ballots even after requesting them. Thankfully, serious efforts have been taking place to make voting in person low-risk, including the use of masks, gloves, distancing, and other precautions. Voters tell us it was easy for them and felt safe. If you have requested an absentee ballot, poll workers might tell you to fill out a special ballot (provisional ballot). This is so they can make sure later that you only voted once. If you receive this instruction, we suggest you agree to it. It is likely that lines will be shortest in the next few days.

Yes! DC allows same-day voter registration at any of the 20 voting centers from now through Election Day on June 2. You can also update your voting address same-day. To register to vote or update your address in person, you need to provide a document with your name and current DC address. Acceptable documents are listed below. If you don’t have the required identification forms, you may cast a special/provisional ballot. Though you can register to vote same-day in DC, existing voters may not change your party registration on the day of the election.

Acceptable documents for registration:

• A copy of a current and valid government-issued photo identification
• A utility bill for water, gas, electricity, cable, internet, telephone, or cellular phone 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 telephone number and was 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

Ballots must be postmarked or returned to a voting center by June 2. This means that if you deposit it in a mailbox, you have to be careful to make sure you check when the mailbox is set to be picked up. Find a mailbox close to you here. For guaranteed timely delivery, you may also return your ballot directly to a voting center. Whether you use a mailbox, post office, or voting center, we suggest taking a photo to document your timely mailing of your vote.

If you are NOT registered to vote yet, you can register in person as a Democrat to vote in the Primary. If you are currently registered with a different party, you unfortunately can’t vote in the June 2 Democratic Primary

You may mail it at any post office, mailbox, or return it to any voting center. If you deposit it in a mailbox, you have to be careful to make sure you check when the mailbox is set to be picked up. Some aren’t picked up every day. If, for instance, you deposited it on 6/2 at 5pm but that day’s last pickup already occurred, it wouldn’t be postmarked by 6/2 and wouldn’t be guaranteed to count. You may also return your ballot to a voting center. Whether you use a mailbox, post office, or voting center, we suggest taking a photo to document your timely mailing of your vote. 

In most cases, you do NOT need ID to vote in DC. The voting center staff will ask for your name, address, and signature.

You can vote in DC if you will be 18 byNov. 3, 2020. If you are currently 17 and will turn 18 by the General Election, you can vote in the June 2 Primary!