VOTER SERVICES

Our Voter Services Committee seeks to register new DC voters, with a special emphasis on registering young people, new naturalized citizens and incarcerated people. We organize partnerships with like-minded organizations to extend our reach to as many potential voters as possible, and we provide voter registration training, registration materials, volunteers for registration events, and information and education that fosters civic engagement.

Voting While Incarcerated

D.C.'s incarcerated citizens are fully enfranchised.  This full access to the ballot is true only for incarcerated citizens of Maine, Vermont, and Puerto Rico.  An individual's criminal legal status create location and logistical impediments to voting, but never cause a voter to lose their right to cast a ballot.  The objective of the Voting While Incarcerated Team is to provide incarcerated citizens with the tools and knowledge to be fully engaged voters accessing the most fundamental right of citizenship.   We assist with voter registration, provide basic civics knowledge through our 'Voting While Incarcerated' discussion sessions and we advocate for access to candidate information.  

Our LWVDC team will be supporting DC citizens in the DC Jail, in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, in halfway houses, and at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).  Click on Restore the Vote 2023 to learn more about the Restore the Vote classes.

For the 2024 Election we intend to partner with the Board of Elections and CIC for voter registration.  The 'Voting While Incarcerated' Team will field training teams for various location.  We also plan to leverage televised candidate forums for viewing by DC citizens in various carceral settings. Members can help by engaging in these types of events: 

• Voter registration visits to the DC Jail and the BOP  (one time or recurring) 

• Leading "Voting While Incarcerated" discussion session helping voters understand DC Elections, Political Parties and Candidates (recurring learning sessions) 

• Serving as an official election observer on Primary and Election Days

 

Click on Voting While Incarcerated to learn more.

Contact - David Schultz: email restorethevote@lwvdc.org

Registration of New Naturalized Citizens

 

Naturalization Ceremonies are among the most inspiring events that the League supports across the US. In DC, over 100 new citizens are sworn in every second Tuesday.  Our goal is to inspire these new citizens to become new registered voters and we do that by showing up, welcoming them and assisting in the registration process on the spot right after the swearing in ceremony. Volunteers can come one time or every second Tuesday.  

League members can support voter registration at Naturalization Ceremonies by emailing Ann Castiglione Cataldo at naturalizations@lwvdc.org.

What You Need to Know About Voting in Washington, DC 

Voter's Toolbox - Registering to vote in the District of Columbia takes less than five minutes online.  Click on the button to learn more.

How to Vote in DC Pamphlet Folleto Cómo Votar en DC - Everything you need to know about voting in the District of Columbia in English or Spanish

Voter Information for DC Citizens (English)
Voter Information for DC Non-Citizens (English)

Información para Votantes: DC Ciudadanos
Información para Votantes: DC Residentes No Ciudadanos

Local Elected Officials - Washington, DC - Click on the button to learn more about the DC Council and DC Mayor. 

Jail-Based Voting in the District of Columbia (video link)


What You Can Do to Make a Difference 

Help us engage voters! 

• Click HERE to view LWVDC Online Voter Registration Training materials.

• Click HERE to view and download the pdf "How to Run an LWVDC Voter Registration Event".

• ClickHERE for general guidance for Leagues when tabling at community events.

Combat Election Mis/Dis/Mal - Information - Click the button to access resources for combatting the threat of election mis/dis/mal-information. 

Become an Election Worker - DC needs residents to serve as Election Workers! Click on the button to visit the DC Board of Elections website for more information and to apply.

Educator's Toolkit - Educators are always looking for active ways to engage their students in the voting process. Click on the button to learn more.

Absentee Ballot Toolkit - This guide provides everything you need to host your own Absentee Ballot Registration.

Requirements by State to Request an Absentee Ballot - Go to your home state for instructions on requesting an absentee ballot.

Young Voter Services 

We use a peer-to-peer approach to engage young DC residents (16-27 years), working with organizations whose mission is to encourage civic engagement for that age group, especially organizations that work with youth in District communities that are underrepresented in voting. We provide training and assist with voter registration and organize special events to focus on issues that matter most to young people.

Young Voter Toolkit - This guide provides information specific to young people who are learning about the importance of voting and how to vote.

AU High School Presentations Training Video

High School Voter Presentation Slide Deck

Turning Out Young DC Voters Animation 

Immigrant Help