YOUTH AND THE VOTE

2026

Official Voting Website: https://www.dcboe.org/

Washington, D.C. provides voter information tools to register to vote, find voting locations, learn about mail-in voting, view election information, and access voter education resources. Residents can also learn about D.C. voting rights, statehood advocacy, and opportunities to get involved in their communities.

Voter Registration: https://www.dcboe.org/voters/register-to-vote/register-update-voter-registration

Find Your Polling Place and Voting Locations: https://www.dcboe.org/

How to Vote: https://www.dcboe.org/

Mail-In and Absentee Voting: https://www.dcboe.org/

Voter Identification and Registration Requirements: https://www.dcboe.org/

2026 Election Information: https://www.dcboe.org/

Election Results: https://electionresults.dcboe.org/

Nonpartisan Voter Education (VOTE411): https://www.vote411.org/

League of Women Voters of D.C.: https://lwvdc.org/

D.C. Voting Rights and Statehood Advocacy (DC Vote): https://www.dcvote.org/

Election Protection and Voter Assistance: https://866ourvote.org/state/washington-d-c/

Voter Registration and Election Reminders (Vote.org): https://www.vote.org/

Youth Voter Engagement (Rock the Vote): https://www.rockthevote.org/

Civic Engagement Opportunities: Residents can get involved beyond voting by volunteering with voter education organizations, attending community meetings, supporting voting rights initiatives, learning about local policies, and encouraging eligible community members to participate in elections.

2024

TOP STRATEGIES/INITIATIVES TO INCREASE REGISTRATION & TURNOUT OF YOUNG VOTERS

State efforts to facilitate youth voting

• DC Board of Elections registration information. Online, in-person and same day voter registration are available
• Starting in 2024, non-US citizens are allowed to register and vote in local elections.
• DC is a national center of civic engagement on issues of concern to young people, e.g. gun safety, reproductive rights, climate, etc.

High school Initiatives

• Registration: Pre-registration available from 16. Registration and voting is allowed at 17 in primary elections if 18 by the general.
• Board of Elections outreach to DC high schools and campuses.
• From age 16, students can be paid poll workers. 
• LWVDC supports high school registration.
• On-line National Youth Summit for middle and high school students at DC-based Smithsonian Institution.
• Successful high school voter registration:
  • National Honor Society and Rotary Interact chapters leading voter registration at Richard Wright PCS.
• 2024: State Board of Education resolution to create a citywide high school voter registration contest.

Find your high school!