District of Columbia

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Washington, DC does not require ID 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

If you are marked as “ID Required” but can’t show an accepted ID, you need to vote by special ballot. For your vote count, you must show ID to the DC Board of Elections within two days of the election.

Note that the signature on your ballot must match your signature on file with the state.

Same-Day Registration

DC allows voter registration online and in person through Election Day.

In Person

If you didn’t verify your identity or residency when you registered, you need to provide ID the first time you vote.

You can use:

Must be unexpired

  • DC driver’s license
  • ID card issued by the DC DMV

Must be current

  • Utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check (issued within 90 days)
  • Student housing or tuition statement
  • Shelter occupancy statement
  • Residential lease
  • Government document with your name and address 

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.