All of us at DCFPI are excited that tomorrow is Election Day! And we’re very encouraged by all that DC does to make it easy for residents to vote—from early voting that many of us took advantage of, to same-day registration, to the just-approved automatic voter registration policy that will be in effect for the next election.
DCFPI encourages all District residents to make your voice heard, and exercise your most significant democratic right, by voting in this election. There’s a lot at stake this year: the presidential election, important DC Council races, lots of passionate people running to be your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and a ballot initiative to ask Congress to admit DC as a state.
If you’ve voted in DC before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote. Simply provide your name and address to the poll worker when you arrive.
If you haven’t registered to vote, don’t worry! DC offers same-day voter registration. Simply show up at your voting location with a proof of residency, which can include any of the following:
- Current DC DMV-issued ID
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Paycheck or government check
- Other government document showing your name and current DC address
- Statement from a student housing or residence facility, or
- Statement of occupancy from a DC homeless shelter.
DC has some of the most progressive voting policies in the nation, with two weeks of early voting and same-day and online voter registration. The DC Council took an even bigger step in this direction last week when it unanimously voted to pass the Automatic Voter Registration Amendment Act of 2015. Under the legislation, DC residents will be automatically registered to vote when they go to the DMV for a driver’s license or ID card. (Residents are not required to vote, nor are they required to be registered—they always have the ability to opt out.)
The bill was passed too late to go into effect this election, but (assuming the Mayor signs the bill and it passes Congressional review), it will be in effect next Election Day.
And not to worry—DCFPI will be there to remind you to go out and vote at that time, too!
