Most people know that Election Day is November 5, but the election has actually already started in Washington, D.C., because early voting opens today, and voters have already started returning absentee ballots. There are several ways you can make your voice heard this year, including casting an absentee ballot, voting early in person, or voting on Election Day. Read on to find out how and where to vote this year in Washington, D.C.
How do I find my local polling place in Washington, D.C.?
If you plan to vote in person, you'll want to find the nearest polling places. To figure out where to cast your vote, head to the D.C. Board of Elections (DCBOE) website, and enter the address where you're registered to vote in the Vote Center Locator Tool. Keep in mind that you are allowed to cast your ballot at any vote center, regardless of your home address.
The tool will pull up the nearest early vote centers, Election day vote centers, and ballot drop boxes, sorted by which is closest to the address you entered. If you're voting in person on Election Day, make a plan to get there between 7am and 8pm. As long as you're in line by 8pm, you'll be able to cast your vote.
Where can I vote on Election Day in Washington, D.C.?
Per the DCBOE, these are the vote center locations that will be open in Washington, D.C. on Election Day, November 5, from 7am-8pm (check the website for addresses and more specifics about where to go at each location, like a gymnasium or meeting room):
Ward 1: Columbia Heights Education Campus; Marie Reed Elementary School; H.D. Cooke Elementary School; Bancroft Elementary School; Columbia Heights Community Center; Prince Hall Center/Masonic Temple
Ward 2: Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church; Stead Recreation Center; Hardy Middle School; Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library; Georgetown Neighborhood Library; M.L.K Jr. Memorial Library; West End Public Library
Ward 3: Palisades Recreation Center; Annunciation Church; Oyster-Adams Bilingual School; Janney Elementary School; Murch Elementary School; Horace Mann Elementary School; Chevy Chase Community Center; Cleveland Park Library; University of the District of Columbia
Ward 4: Powell Elementary School; Barnard Elementary School; Takoma Education Campus; LaSalle-Backus Education Campus; St. John's College High School; Ida B. Wells Middle School; Shepherd Recreation Center; Fort Stevens Recreation Center; Emery Heights Community Center; Takoma Community Center; Raymond Recreation Center
Ward 5: Burroughs Elementary School; Noyes Education Campus; Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center; Mt. Horeb Baptist Church; Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library; McKinley Technology High School; Dunbar Senior High School; Woodridge Neighborhood Library; Turkey Thicket Recreation Center
Ward 6: J.O. Wilson Elementary School; Stuart-Hobson Middle School; Eastern Market; Payne Elementary School; Watkins Elementary School; Jefferson Middle School Academy; King Greenleaf Recreation Center; Sherwood Recreation Center; RH Terrell Recreation Center
Ward 7: Kelly Miller Middle School; Miner Elementary School; Kenilworth Recreation Center; Nalle Elementary School; Randle-Highlands Elementary School; St. Timothy's Episcopal Church; Kimball Elementary School; Benning Stoddert Recreation Center; Deanwood Recreation Center; Hillcrest Recreation Center; Rosedale Recreation Center
Ward 8: Town Hall Arts Recreation Center (THEARC); Hendley Elementary School; Allen A.M.E. Church; Covenant Baptist Church; Union Temple Baptist Church; Anacostia Senior High School; Ballou Senior High School; Turner Elementary School; Arthur Capper Community Center; Bald Eagle Recreation Center; Fort Stanton Recreation Center; Ferebee-Hope Recreation Center
When does early voting start in Washington, D.C.?
A bunch of polling places are already open in D.C. Starting today until Sunday, November 3, D.C. voters can cast votes at 25 locations spread across all eight wards (enter your address here to find your ward). These centers will also be open on Election Day itself from 7am to 8pm. Here are the early vote locations for each precinct, which are open daily from 8:30am-7pm (check the D.C. Board of Elections website for the full list, addresses, and live, updated wait times for each location):
Ward 1: Columbia Heights Community Center (gymnasium); Prince Hall Center for the Performing Arts (ballroom)
Ward 2: Georgetown Neighborhood Library; Stead Recreation Center (multi-purpose room); Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (Great Hall); West End Public Library (meeting room)
Ward 3: Chevy Chase Community Center; Cleveland Park Library (multi-purpose room); University of the District of Columbia (student center)
Ward 4: Takoma Community Center; Raymond Recreation Center (gymnasium); Emery Heights Community Center (gymnasium)
Ward 5: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (gymnasium); Woodbridge Neighborhood Library
Ward 6: Walker-Jones MS/RH Terrell Recreation Center (gymnasium); King Greenleaf Recreation Center (gymnasium); Sherwood Recreation Center (gymnasium)
Ward 7: Benning Stoddert Recreation Center (gymnasium); Deanwood Recreation Center (gymnasium); Hillcrest Recreation Center (gymnasium); Rosedale Recreation Center (gymnasium)
Ward 8: Bald Eagle Recreation Center (gymnasium); Arthur Capper Community Center (gymnasium); Ferebee-Hope Recreation Center (gymnasium); Fort Stanton Recreation Center (gymnasium)
Where do I return my absentee ballot in Washington, D.C.?
While it's too late to request an absentee ballot in D.C. (the deadline to do that is 15 days before the election), those who already have them can return them by mail through the USPS, at an in-person polling location, or drop them in one of the 55 ballot drop boxes around the city. If you're confused about how to package your ballot in the return envelope, the DCBOE has a webpage with photo instructions (there are also instructions printed on your ballot).
Ballot drop boxes: Ballot drop boxes are open 24 hours a day until 8pm on November 5, Election Day. Elections officials collect ballots from each box daily. You do not have to drop your ballot in a dropbox located in your ward; for example, if you live in Ward 1 but you're grocery shopping in Ward 2 and have your ballot handy, you can drop it in that box. Find the full list of ballot drop box locations here, and locate the ones closest to you using the above Vote Center Locator Tool.
Through United States Postal Service: To return your ballot via mail, simply drop it in any blue USPS mailbox. Keep in mind that your ballot must be postmarked on or before November 5 to be counted, and must be received by the Board of Elections no later than 10 days post election (November 15). Remember that postage is already prepaid and included on the ballot return envelope, so you don't need to attach any stamps.
In-person: You can also return your mail-in ballot to an in-person polling location during early voting or on Election Day. Per the DCBOE, you do not have to wait in line to return your mail-in ballot.
When are polling places open in Washington, D.C.?
Select early vote centers are open daily 8:30am-7pm from Monday, October 28 to Sunday, November 3. On Election Day, which is November 5, every polling place listed above will be open 7am-8pm EST (you can vote as long as you're in line by 8pm, even if you cast your vote after 8pm). Ballot drop boxes are open 24 hours per day, and will be available for voters to use until 8pm EST on Election Day.
How do I know if I'm registered to vote in Washington, D.C.?
Not sure if you're registered to vote? Check your voter registration status here on the DBOE website; all you have to do is enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and your Social Security number, driver's license number, or voter ID number. If you are registered to vote, find your polling place and attend on Election Day or during the early vote period. If you need to update your information, do so online or in person when you vote.
If you're not registered to vote, there's still time to register. The deadline to register online already passed, but D.C. allows same-day voter registration. To do so, bring proof of D.C. residence to a polling place on Election Day or during early voting, and an election worker will help you get started.
Check the DCBOE site for all acceptable forms of D.C. residence proof, which include: current government-issued photo ID, like a driver's license; your current lease or rental agreement; utility bill (electricity, water, gas, Internet, cable, phone) issued at least 90 days or three months before the election; savings, checking, or credit account statement from bank from at least 90 days before election; paycheck, pay stub, or earning statement with your name, address, and phone number; or a tuition or housing bill for the current term from a university or college in D.C.
How do I know when my ballot was received or counted in Washington, D.C.?
The D.C. Board of Elections uses a system called BallotTrax that allows voters to track when the Board of Elections receives and counts their ballot. Find out more about how to track your ballot and enter your information here to see when your ballot has been received and counted.
Can you vote online?
No, you cannot vote online in D.C. You can only cast an in-person or absentee ballot.
Who can I contact if I have questions about voting in Washington, D.C.?
Check the D.C. Board of Elections website for everything you need to know about voting in the District. If you run into issues voting in person on Election Day or during early voting, immediately talk to an election worker at your polling place. Learn more about language and accessibility help available at vote centers.
You can also get help from the national, non-partisan Election Protection hotline via phone, text, Whats-App, or Facebook. There are hotlines staffed with lawyers and volunteers who can help voters sort out issues in several languages, including: English (866-OUR-VOTE or 866-687-8683), Spanish (888-VE-Y-VOTA or 888-839-8682), Asian languages (888-API-VOTE or 888-274-8683), and Arabic languages (844-YALLA-US or 844-925-5287).