neighborhood news
O
ELECTI N COVERAGE
Election Changes During COVID-19
Everything You Need to Know to Vote in the November 3 General Election
A
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
fter a June 2 primary election that was plagued by problems with absentee ballots and long lines for inperson voting, the District Board of Elections (DCBOE) has made many changes to mitigate problems and avoid delays for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election. Here is a guide to what’s changed and what matters as we head to the polls again.
Who Can Vote
To vote in DC, you must be a US citizen, at least 17 years of age, have been a District resident for at least 30 days prior to the election and not been found legally incompetent to vote by a court. Emergency police reform legislation passed by the DC Council on July 7 restored voting rights to District residents currently incarcerated for felony crimes. Those incarcerated for misdemeanors and returning citizens have the right already. DCBOE has mailed ballots to DC residents held at DC Jail and in federal prisons nationwide.
Registering to Vote
District residents register to vote during a Sept. 21 National Voter Registration Day event hosted by DCBOE outside The Anthem (901 Wharf St. SW)
You can register to vote by mail, by email as part of the DCBOE Vote Safe Campaign. Photo: N. Jacobs/DCBOE or online. Download voter registration forms at https://www.dcboe.org/Voters/ a valid DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)-issued Register-To-Vote/Register-to-Vote or pick ID and you consent to use the digital signature that the them up at the DC Board of Elections (1015 Half St. SE), DMV has on file for you. Just save it and send it as an open public libraries, Metropolitan Police Department email attachment to the address below, with the ID numprecincts or fire stations. ber in your email. To register, fill in the form either in hard copy or digIf you do not have a DMV ID or do not want to use itally, completing fields 1 to 13, and send it to DCBOE your signature on file, you must sign a printed form. You by email or USPS. can send it postage prepaid by USPS, or take a picture You don’t have to print the form or sign it if you have 16
E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m
with your smartphone and send it via email. Submit voter registration to the DC Board of Elections: • Via mail or in person: 1015 Half St. SE, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20003 • By email (with form attached) to DCRegistrations@dcboe.org • By faxing to 202-347-2648
