District of Columbia ballot
19 races and 1 measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Parties are as printed on the ballot.
How to vote in District of Columbia
- Election day
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Register by
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026 · online · same-day registration available
- Early voting
- Oct 26 - Nov 1, 2026, daily 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Early Vote Centers (same-day registration available)
- Mail ballot
- Ballots are mailed to all registered voters; requests for a ballot at a different address must be received by Oct 19, 2026
- Return by
- Drop box or Vote Center by 8 p.m. Nov 3, 2026; by mail postmarked by Nov 3 and received by Nov 13, 2026
- ID
- No ID generally required for registered voters; same-day registrants must provide proof of DC residence.
DC mails a ballot to every registered voter (mailing began about Sept 28, 2026). The deadline to register or update registration by mail/online is Oct 13, 2026; after that you can still register and vote the same day at any Early Vote Center or at a Vote Center on Election Day by showing proof of DC residence. Early Vote Centers are open daily Oct 26 - Nov 1, 2026, 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. If you need a ballot mailed to a different address, the Board must receive your request by Oct 19, 2026. Return your mail ballot to any drop box (open Oct 9 - Nov 3) or Vote Center by 8 p.m. Nov 3, or mail it postmarked by Nov 3 so it arrives by Nov 13, 2026. Registered voters generally aren't asked for ID; same-day registrants must show proof of residence. Ranked choice voting is used in contests with three or more candidates: you may rank up to five. Check your registration at the Board of Elections' lookup.
Find your ballot on the official District of Columbia lookup ↗ · Elections office ↗
Federal
Statewide and state
County and local
Measures and recalls
DC voters will decide Initiative Measure No. 86, a citizen initiative placed on the ballot by petition after the Board of Elections verified signatures. According to the Board's official summary statement, it would prohibit force-feeding a bird to enlarge its liver, ban the sale or distribution of products resulting from force-feeding (including foie gras), have the Department of Energy and Environment enforce the ban during routine food safety inspections, and provide civil penalties. The ballot choices are 'Yes, to approve' and 'No, to reject.'
Official document ↗