Voting is one of our most fundamental rights, and the D.C. primary election is on June 16, 2026. At ACLU-D.C., we work to build a just and free D.C. where all people can exercise their civil rights and liberties. However you plan to vote, make civil rights and liberties a priority when you cast your ballot this June.

Here is everything you need to know to vote in the primary: D.C. voter registration, ranked-choice voting, early voting, mail-in and drop-off ballots – we’ve got you covered.

D.C. residents who will be at least 18 years old by November 3, 2026 (general election day), and who are registered to vote as a Democrat, Republican, or DC Statehood Green, can vote in the June 16 D.C. primary election. Registered Independent voters cannot vote in this primary. You can register with one of the parties or change your party affiliation by May 26.

Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens can register to vote. To register, you must:

• be at least 17 years old (you can vote in a primary election if you will be at least 18 years old by the next general election);

• have claimed residency in the District of Columbia since at least May 17, 2026;

• not claim residency or be registered to vote anywhere else;

• not have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote.

District residents who are U.S. citizens and 16 years old can pre-register to vote (but cannot vote in the primary election until the year they will turn 18 years old by general election day).

D.C. residents who are incarcerated may also register to vote, even if they are held outside the District. The District of Columbia Board of Elections is required to provide D.C. residents incarcerated in the custody of the D.C. Department of Corrections and the federal Bureau of Prisons with voter registration materials.

Check your voter registration status here on the DC Board of Elections website.

If you are incarcerated, you can contact the DC Board of Elections at 202-727-2525 or via Corrlinks at outreachspecialist@dcboe.org to confirm that your application was received.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote or update your registration in any of these ways by May 26:

• online here;

• with a registration form. You can get a registration form online, at the DC Board of Elections office, or at most D.C. public libraries. Submit your completed form either by mail (DC Board of Elections, 1015 Half St SE #750, Washington, DC 20003), in person, by fax (202-347-2648), or by email (DCRegistrations@dcboe.org).

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote or update your registration in any of these ways by May 26:

• online here;

• with a registration form. You can get a registration form online, at the DC Board of Elections office, or at most D.C. public libraries. Submit your completed form either by mail (DC Board of Elections, 1015 Half St SE #750, Washington, DC 20003), in person, by fax (202-347-2648), or by email (DCRegistrations@dcboe.org).

If you miss the May 26 deadline, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens can register when you vote during early voting (Monday, June 8, 2026 – Sunday, June 14, 2026) or on election day (June 16). Just bring proof of D.C. residency with you (see acceptable documents for citizens here and for non-citizens here) when you go to vote.

If you are incarcerated at the D.C. Jail, you can register to vote or update your registration in any of these ways:

• with a registration form by May 26. You can request a registration form by mail (DC Board of Elections, 1015 Half St SE #750, Washington, DC 20003). Submit your completed application by mail; the office must receive your application by May 26. Contact the DC Board of Elections at 202-727-2525 or via Corrlinks at outreachspecialist@dcboe.org to confirm that your application was received.
• in person when you vote at the D.C. Jail.

If you are incarcerated at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, you can register to vote or update your registration:

• By contacting the DC Board of Elections at outreachspecialist@dcboe.org via Corrlinks. Contact the DC Board of Elections at 202-727-2525 or via Corrlinks at outreachspecialist@dcboe.org to confirm that your application was received.

People who are incarcerated and who have a disability that makes it hard to vote may email jpenuel@dcboe.org or call collect at (202) 800-6190 to request accommodation.

This election, D.C. voters will use ranked-choice voting. Instead of voting for just one candidate, you can choose to rank between one and five candidates for each office, in order of preference. Rank your favorite candidate as your 1st choice, your second favorite as your 2nd choice, and so on.

If no one candidate gets over 50% of the votes in the first round of counting, lower-performing candidates are eliminated and votes for them are redistributed until one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote.

Check out this video explaining how to complete a ranked-choice ballot.

All active registered D.C. voters and incarcerated voters who have registered to vote will receive a ballot in the mail. The DC Board of Elections plans to start mailing ballots on May 11. You can track your ballot here.

Complete and sign your ballot, and then mail it (paid postage is included) by June 16. The ballot must be postmarked or have some other proof you mailed it by June 16, and it must arrive by June 26. If you can contact the DC Board of Elections at 202-727-2525 or via Corrlinks at outreachspecialist@dcboe.org to confirm that your ballot was received.

All active registered D.C. voters will receive a ballot in the mail. The DC Board of Elections plans to start mailing ballots on May 11. You can track your ballot here.

Drop boxes are tentatively scheduled to open on May 22. Complete and sign your ballot, and then drop it in a drop box by 8pm on June 16.

Monday, June 8 – Sunday, June 14, 8:30am–7:00pm

Go to an Early Vote Center between 8:30am–7:00 pm and vote by paper or electronic ballot.

You don’t need to bring any specific form of ID to vote in person, but if you are doing same-day voter registration, bring proof of D.C. residency with you (see acceptable documents for citizens here and for non-citizens here).

June 16, 7:00am–8:00pm

Go to any Vote Center regardless of your address, between 7:00am–8:00pm, and vote by paper or electronic ballot.

You don’t need to bring any specific form of ID to vote in person, but if you are doing same-day voter registration, bring proof of D.C. residency with you (see acceptable documents for citizens here and for non-citizens here).

If you are incarcerated at the D.C. Jail, you can vote in person at the D.C. Jail during voting days.