District of Columbia federal voting rights
Voting rights of citizens in the District of Columbia differ from the rights of citizens in the 50 U.S. states. The United States Constitution grants each state voting representation in both houses of the United States Congress. It defines the federal district as being outside of any state, and does not grant it any voting representation in Congress. The Constitution grants Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the District in "all cases whatsoever".
Voting rights in District of Columbia | |
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| Demographics | |
| Minimum voting age | 18 |
| Preregistration age | 16 |
| Felon voting status | No prohibition |
| Voter registration | |
| Voter registration required | Yes |
| Online voter registration | Yes (since 2015) |
| Automatic voter registration | Yes (since 2018) |
| Same-day registration | Yes |
| Partisan affiliation | Yes |
| Voting process | |
| In-person early-voting status | seven days prior |
| Postal ballot status | Yes (up to 15 days prior) |
| Straight-ticket device status | No |
| Election method | First-past-the-post (plurality) |
| Voter powers | |
| Ballot question rights | initiative and veto referendum |
| Recall powers | For all local officials, except for the district delegate; incumbent may not be recalled during first and last years in office |
| Federal representation level | Territory-level |
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In the House of Representatives, the District is represented by a delegate, who because of the constitutional provisions is not allowed to vote on the House floor but under House rules can vote on procedural matters and in congressional committees. D.C. residents have no representation in the Senate. The Twenty-third Amendment, adopted in 1961, effectively entitles the District to three electoral votes in the election of the president and vice president.
The District's lack of voting representation in Congress has been an issue since the capital's founding. Numerous proposals have been introduced to change this situation, including legislation and constitutional amendments, returning the district to Maryland, and making it into a new state. All proposals have been met with political or constitutional challenges, and there has been no change in the district's representation in Congress.