Here’s What Capitol Hill Needs to Know About Voting – in a Nutshell

Here’s What Capitol Hill Needs to Know About Voting – in a Nutshell

by Larry Janezich

Charles Allen has distributed a comprehensive memo on How To Vote In the General Election.  Here are the key points Capitol Hill residents need to know.  The link at the end will take you to Allen’s memo if you want more.

Residents who are registered to vote by October 13 will get a ballot in the mail.  See CM Allen’s memo (link below) for more info on registering. 

The four ways to vote early:

Return your ballot BY MAIL – must be postmarked on or before November 3.

Return your ballot in one of the new secure BALLOT DROP BOXES across the District until 8 p.m. on Election Day.  The drop boxes became active Monday, October 5.  Here are the locations for the drop boxes on or near Capitol Hill: 

• Eastern Market, 225 7th Street, SE
• Northeast Library, 330 7th Street, NE
• Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th Street, SE
• Rosedale Library, 1701 Gales Street, NE

DROP OFF YOUR BALLOT at any Vote Center from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. during “Election Week” (October 27-November 2) and from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Election Day.  On or near Capitol Hill, the Vote Centers are Sherwood Recreation Center – 640 10th Street, NE; and the SUPER VOTE CENTER AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS PARK.

VOTE EARLY IN PERSON at any Vote Center during “Election Week” (October 27-November 2) from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.  On or near Capitol Hill, the Vote Centers are Sherwood Recreation Center – 640 10th Street, NE; and the SUPER VOTE CENTER AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS PARK.

Once they open you can check the wait time here:  https://earlyvoting.dcboe.org/

Voting on Election Day:

Anticipate lines.   Each voting center has reduced capacity because of COVID safety precautions.  Allen’s office advises bringing water, snacks, and a mask, and dress warmly and comfortably. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.  Here are the voting locations in Ward Six:

• MINER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                           601 15th Street NE      
• J.O. WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                 660 K Street, NE           
• STUART-HOBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL                    410 E Street, NE      
• EASTERN MARKET                                                   225 7th Street, SE       
• PAYNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                          1445 C Street, SE      
• WATKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                          420 12th Street, SE       
• ARTHUR CAPPER COMMUNITY CENTER               1000 5th Street, SE       
• JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMY               801 7th Street, SW      
• KING GREENLEAF RECREATION CENTER              201 N Street, SW      
• SHERWOOD RECREATION CENTER                         640 10th Street, NE      
• SUPER VOTE CENTER AT NATIONALS PARK        1500 S. Capitol Street, SE
• KENNEDY RECREATION CENTER                           1401 7th Street, NW     
• WALKER-JONES EDUCATION CAMPUS             1125 New Jersey Ave., NW

Voters can vote at any Vote Center during Election Week or on Election Day, regardless of where they live. Most people are accustomed to voting at their traditional precinct and that will not be required for this General Election.

Registered voters do not need to present proof of residence to vote. But – if you will be registering during the Early Voting period or on Election Day, you will need to provide proof of residence in order to register and vote. And if you are a first-time voter who registered by mail and did not provide proof of residence when registering, you will need to show proof of residence in order to cast a live (regular) ballot.

Here’s the link to CM Charles Allen’s memo on voting:  https://bit.ly/3jzDvj0

And here’s a link to an article in The DC Line:  Who’s on DC’s general election ballot, which has links to candidates’ websites if they have one: https://thedcline.org/2020/09/24/whos-on-dcs-general-election-ballot/