The League of Women Voters of D.C. asks “Is your registration is up to date” because we know that people may have made major changes in their lives since the last election. We want to register every eligible voter, including incarcerated and returning citizens, native Washingtonians and newcomers, new citizens, non-citizens—including you!
For 104 years, the League has been informing and engaging voters. We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, right, knowledge and confidence to participate. We work to secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. We promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all. As a non-partisan organization we want to make sure that people know who is on the ballot so they can make informed choices when they vote. You can go to Vote411.org and put in your address to find out who is on your ballot and what they say about themselves and issues.
Election Information for Incarcerated D.C. Residents
Do you have an incarcerated loved one? D.C. residents serving time for felonies (or misdemeanors) have the right to vote, thanks to D.C.’s Restore the Vote Amendment Act of 2020.
To support incarcerated voters, the D.C. Board of Elections created a dedicated team. Their contact information is by direct phone at 202.727.2525, Toll Free 866-DC-VOTES, or via CorrLinks at outreachspecialist@dcboe.org. Call or email with questions about registration, elections or to change your address or political party.
Incarcerated voters will register to vote at their District of Columbia home address and receive their ballots at the mailing address they provide which can be a BOP facility. Mail-in ballots are being printed and sent now, along with election information and candidate information created by the League’s Vote411.org nationwide voter information system. On VOTE411, candidates provide responses to questions and the D.C. League has printed and mailed the candidate information to over 1,000 individuals who are registered in the District and incarcerated in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Like LWVUS, the D.C. League is 104 years old. We called ourselves the “voteless League of Women Voters” in 1921 and have been working to gain full rights for D.C. citizens since then. Full rights means joining the rest of the United States by becoming a state, fully equal to the other 50 states. We would have two Senators and Representatives according to our population. We would have full control of our laws, judicial system and budget. Our governor could call up the D.C. National Guard when needed, without having to wait for presidential approval like we did on January 6th.
The United States would still have a national capital in a smaller Federal District. It would hold the Capitol, Supreme Court, Mall, White House, monuments and congressional office buildings, and Congress would have total control over it. Our neighborhoods—where almost 700,000 of us live and work—would all be in the new state of Douglass Commonwealth.
We have never been closer to gaining statehood than we are right now. The House has passed the Washington, DC Admission Act twice and we have record co-sponsors in the Senate. We hope to gain statehood in 2025. You are welcome to join our team and help D.C. become our nation’s 51st state. Contact us at statehood@lwvdc.org. We’re happy to talk to your community group. Visit www.lwvdc.org and join the League!