Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Washington, D.C.

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Washington, D.C., a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office.

  1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
  2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
  3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Washington, D.C. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Washington, D.C.."

Year-specific dates

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Municipal elections in Washington, D.C. (2018)

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

Washington, D.C., filing deadlines, 2018
March 21, 2018June 19, 2018November 6, 2018
Filing deadlinePrimary electionGeneral election

For filing deadlines from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Washington, D.C., in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
March 16, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for filing nominating petitions, supplements, declarations of candidacy, and other required documents for the primary
June 14, 2016 Election date Primary election
June 15, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for write-in candidates to file affirmations of write-in candidacy (primary; required if write-in candidate won)
July 18, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for independent and minor party candidates to file nominating petitions, supplements, declarations of candidacy, and other required documents for the general election
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
November 11, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for write-in candidates to file affirmations of write-in candidacy (general; required if write-in candidate won)
Sources: District of Columbia Board of Elections, "June 14, 2016 Federal and Local Primary Election—Calendar of Important Dates and Deadlines," accessed July 9, 2015
District of Columbia Board of Elections, "November 8, 2016 General Election—Calendar of Important Dates and Deadlines," accessed July 9, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 3 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations

In Washington, D.C., all candidates except write-in candidates must meet the same filing requirements. Because only officially recognized political party candidates are permitted to run in the primary election, filing deadlines do vary. The requirements to file as a candidate are outlined below.

Officially recognized party candidates, minor party candidates, and independent candidates

A candidate must file a signed and notarized declaration of candidacy, an affidavit of qualifications, and a nominating petition with the District of Columbia Board of Elections no later than 90 days before the election in which the candidate is running. For officially recognized political party candidates, that would be 90 days before the primary election, and for minor party and independent candidates, that would be 90 days before the general election. The nominating petition may be circulated as early as 144 days before the election in which the candidate is running.[3][4]

Once a nominating petition has been filed with the District of Columbia Board of Elections, it will be posted publicly for a period of 10 days. During that time, any registered D.C. voter may challenge the validity of the petition by filing a signed, written statement with the District of Columbia Board of Elections.[4]

Petition signature requirements are detailed in the table below.[4]

Signature requirements for candidates in Washington, D.C.
Office sought Minimum signatures needed for the primary election Minimum signatures needed for the general election
Mayor 2,000, or 1% of registered voters in the same party as the candidate, whichever is less 3,000, or 1.5% of registered voters, whichever is less
Attorney General 2,000, or 1% of registered voters in the same party as the candidate, whichever is less 3,000, or 1.5% of registered voters, whichever is less
Chairman of the Washington, D.C. Council 2,000, or 1% of registered voters in the same party as the candidate, whichever is less 3,000, or 1.5% of registered voters, whichever is less
At-Large Member of the D.C. Council 2,000, or 1% of registered voters in the same party as the candidate, whichever is less 3,000, or 1.5% of registered voters, whichever is less
Ward Member of the D.C. Council 250, or 1% of registered voters in the same party and residing the same ward as the candidate, whichever is less 500 signatures of registered voters who reside in the same ward as the candidate
Nonvoting Delegate to the United States House of Representatives 2,000, or 1% of registered voters in the same party as the candidate, whichever is less 3,000, or 1.5% of registered voters, whichever is less
"Shadow" Senator 2,000 ,or 1% of registered voters in the same party as the candidate, whichever is less 3,000, or 1.5% of registered voters, whichever is less
U.S. "Shadow" Representative 2,000, or 1% of registered voters in the same party as the candidate, whichever is less 3,000, or 1.5% of registered voters, whichever is less
Ward Member of the Board of Education 200 signatures of registered voters who reside in the same ward as the candidate
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner[5] 25 signatures of registered voters who reside in the same single-member district as the candidate

Write-in candidates

Like other candidates, a write-in candidate must file a declaration of candidacy and affidavit of qualifications with the District of Columbia Board of Elections. This form is due at 4:45 p.m. on 14th day preceding the election.[3][4]

If a write-in candidate wins the election, he or she must complete an affirmation of write-in candidacy form at the office of the District of Columbia Board of Elections no later than three days after the primary or seven days after the general election. At that time, a write-in candidate may declare affiliation with an officially recognized political party if the candidate is a registered member of the party.[3]

Petition requirements

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain ballot access. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., petitions are used to place candidates on the ballot. On these petitions, candidates must collect a certain number of registered voters' signatures, depending on the office being sought.[3] To collect these signatures, candidates may use circulators, individuals who physically go out among voters on the candidate's behalf to witness the signing of the petition.

Circulation requirements

A circulator must meet the following qualifications:[6][7]

  • The circulator must be at least 18 years old.
  • The circulator must be either a resident of D.C. or, if not a resident, have registered with the District of Columbia Board of Elections as a non-resident circulator.

Registering with the board of elections as a non-resident circulator must be done in person. To register, a non-resident circulator must bring proof of residence.[6] A circulator must also complete and file a registration form providing the name of the candidate, the office he or she is seeking, and the name, address, phone number, and email address of the circulator. On this form, a circulator must also affirm that he or she, though not a resident of D.C., would otherwise be eligible to vote in D.C. A circulator must also acknowledge that he or she has received the rules regulating the petition process, promise to adhere to those rules, and consent to the board of elections' subpoena power and to the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the enforcement of subpoenas.[7]

Voters may not sign any name but their own on nominating petitions.[3]

When the petitions are completed and ready to be filed with the board of elections, a circulator must swear under oath that he or she circulated the petition and witnessed the signing of each signature. A circulator must also acknowledge responsibility for the contents of the petition and affirm that, according to the best information available, each signature on the petition is genuine.[6]

Electronic petitions

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

As part of the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Support Act of 2016, the Council of the District of Columbia amended the district's election code ordering the Board of Elections to do the following:

“

(B) No later than October 1, 2017, implement a pilot program that provides a limited number, as determined by the Board, of candidates, qualified petition circulators, and proposers with the option to use a mobile application, in addition to the paper circulation process, to gather electronic signatures on a mobile device registered with the Board for the June 2018 Primary Election;
C) For the November 2018 General Election, and all subsequent elections, make a mobile application available to all candidates, qualified petition circulators, and proposers to install on a mobile device registered with the Board; and
(D) Issue rules to implement the use of a mobile application for all elections, including how to register a mobile device with the Board in order to utilize the mobile application; provided, that the rules shall require signed petitions from the mobile application to be printed out and submitted to the Board.[8][9]

”

The District of Columbia Board of Elections wrote in 2018, "January 26...marks the debut of the eSign mobile app. Organizations proposing ballot initiatives and potential candidates running for office will have the option of collecting signatures electronically via the app. eSign, which will be available for download on tablets or pre-loaded devices provided by DCBOE, allows petition circulators to confirm that a signer is a registered voter through a private, secure database. The traditional pen and paper process is still available; eSign is not required to collect signatures."[10]

The board stated that D.C. was the second jurisdiction in the nation to use the system.


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in D.C. can contact the following local and federal agencies.

District of Columbia Board of Elections

1015 Half Street SE, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-727-2525
Toll free: 1-866-DC-VOTES
Fax: 202-347-2648
Email: director@dcboe.org
Website: https://www.dcboe.org

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

External links

Official district and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Internet Archive, "District of Columbia Board of Elections: April 1, 2014 Primary Election," archived March 15, 2014
  2. ↑ Internet Archive, "District of Columbia Board of Elections: April 1, 2014 Primary Election Calendar of Important Dates and Deadlines," archived October 30, 2013
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 District of Columbia Board of Elections, "Candidate Ballot Access Information," accessed March 15, 2022
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Council of the District of Columbia, "Code of the District of Columbia: § 1–1001.08. Qualifications of candidates and electors; nomination and election of Delegate, Chairman of the Council, members of Council, Mayor, Attorney General, and members of State Board of Education; petition requirements; arrangement of ballot." accessed March 15, 2022
  5. ↑ Council of the District of Columbia, "Code of the District of Columbia: § 1–309.05. Advisory Neighborhood Commissions — Qualifications of members; nomination by petition." accessed March 15, 2022
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 District of Columbia Board of Elections, "Circulating and Filing Nominating Petitions," accessed March 15, 2022
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Council of the District of Columbia, "Code of the District of Columbia: § 1–1001.02. Definitions." accessed March 15, 2022
  8. ↑ Council of the District of Columbia, "Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Support Act of 2016," August 18, 2016
  9. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  10. ↑ District of Columbia Board of Elections, "Board Announces Availability of June 19, 2018 Primary Election Ballot Petitions," January 18, 2018
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