Washington, DC

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DC does not require ID to vote. You must verify your identity when you register to vote.

1 Voter Registration

DC Voter Eligibility Requirements

You must register before you can vote in DC.

You are eligible to vote in DC if you meet all of the following requirements:

  • You a resident of DC.
  • You are at least 18 years of age on Election Day.

You cannot register to vote in DC if:

  • You have been declared incapacitated by a court of law.

DC Voter Registration ID Requirements

To register to vote:

  • You must provide your driver’s license number or state ID card number if you have one.
  • If you do not have either of these IDs, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number (SSN).
  • If you do not have a Social Security number, then leave that space blank on your registration form.

If you don’t provide any of these numbers or the state can’t match the number you provide to official records, you will have to show an accepted form of ID the first time you vote.

DC also requires you to provide an ID document with your name and current address to prove your residency.

You can use:
Must be unexpired 

  • DC license
  • ID card issued by the DC DMV

Issued within 90 days

  • Utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Paycheck
  • Government check

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register and vote on the same day in DC?

Yes, Washington, DC has same-day voter registration. Same-day registration allows you to register and vote in person on the same day. You can also use it to update your voter registration information.

The deadline to register to vote in DC is 21 days before Election Day. If this registration deadline has passed, same-day registration is available in DC during early voting and on Election Day.

You must provide a document with your name and current address to prove your residency.

Can I register to vote in DC if I have been convicted of a crime?

Each state has its own laws about whether citizens with previous criminal convictions can vote.

To check your eligibility to register to vote in Washington, DC use Restore Your Vote.

You can also learn more by reading this blog post: Can People Convicted of a Felony Vote in the United States?

Can I register to vote in DC if I attend college in DC?
College students are allowed to vote using their DC school residence address. You can decide if you prefer to register in your home state or in DC if you attend school there. You may only be registered and vote in one location.