Request Registration/Absentee Ballot
Fill out the Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request
You may not need to fill out this entire form. Check out the instructions below to see what information your state requires.
Open Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request
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What do I fill in?
Only the following blocks are required:
Block 1: Select the category that describes you.
Block 2.a: Name (Last, First, Middle); Block 2.e: Date of Birth
Blocks 2.f and 2.g: Your valid District of Columbia Driver's License number or the last four digits of your Social Security number is required for voter registration. If you do not possess either of these identification numbers, the District of Columbia shall assign a number that will serve to identify you for voter registration purposes.
Block 3.a through 3.e: Complete street address of your District of Columbia voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. This address must be different from the one provided in Block 4 and must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.
Block 4.a: Complete address where you want your ballot sent – usually your current mailing address. It must be different from the address you provided in Block 3.
Block 4.c: Check how you would like to receive your absentee ballot (mail or fax). If you do not make a selection, then your local election official will mail your ballot to you. The District of Columbia allows military members to receive the blank ballot by fax only if military service prevents them from being able to receive and return the ballot within 45 days.
Block 5: Enter your political party affiliation or write "none" if you want to vote in primary elections. If you are a registered non-partisan or undeclared, you must indicate which party ballot you want to receive. If you want to change your political party affiliation, submit a completed Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form indicating your new party preference to the local election official.
Block 6: Submission of this form serves as a request to receive ballots for all Federal elections held through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. If you do not wish to receive ballots for that length of time, you may request a ballot for each election for Federal office held in the next election year OR a ballot for only the next scheduled election for Federal office by noting your choice here. Provide any additional comments for your election official here.
Block 7: Sign and date. No witness or notary required.
Submission Options
You must mail your Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request to:
District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics
441 4th Street, N.W. Suite 250
Washington, DC 20001-2745
Optional: You may be able to use the Postage-Paid Envelope Template.
Open Postage-Paid Envelope Template
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The postage-paid envelope may be used if mailed in the U.S. Postal System which includes all U.S. military post offices (APO/FPO) overseas or through the diplomatic pouch available at U.S. embassies/consulates. Affix appropriate postage if using international mail. Template must be printed on a number 10 or larger envelope.
If you choose to fax, you MUST also sign and mail your request
Fax
If you choose to fax, it is recommended that you fax the form directly to District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics at: (202)-347-2648. You may also use our toll-free fax service:
Inside the U.S.? Fax to:
1-800-368-8683
(703)-693-5527
DSN 223-5527
Outside the U.S.? Show me a list of toll-free fax numbers
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Follow-up
- Check the "Important Dates" section at the top of this page for registration, ballot request, and voted ballot return deadlines.
- If you are a military member who will not be able to receive and return the ballot within 45 days before the election due to military service, you may receive your blank ballot by fax. Write your fax number in section 2 of the form, and check your preference in Block 4c.
- If you are a military member who will not be able to receive and return the ballot within 45 days before the election due to military service, you may return your voted ballot by fax. See Step 2 for instructions.
- If you have not received your absentee ballot in a timely manner use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.