Pre-18 voter registration in D.C.
In District of Columbia 9,681 people turn 18 every year.
Washingtonians can pre-register before turning 18.
pre-register before turning To register to vote in District of Columbia, you must be: 16 years old.
That means all eligible seniors and juniors in your high school can register to vote today and vote at 18*.
*In District of Columbia, 17-year-olds can vote in primaries if they will be 18 by Nov 3rd, 2026.
High school students can help one another get ready to vote.
Next Steps!
How to Register to Vote in District of Columbia
Upcoming Statewide or Federal Elections:
- Nov 3rd, 2026 - District of Columbia General Election (Register by Oct 13th, 2026)
Same-day voter registration is available in District of Columbia, which means eligible voters can register the same day they vote.
Useful Links:
- Registration Form - Download the paper registration form for District of Columbia.
- Registration Status - Check if you are already registered, your polling place, and more from your state’s voter registration website.
- Fair Elections Center - Learn about conducting a registration drive in District of Columbia.
- Vote 411 - A nonpartisan resource to help you register, preview your ballot, and find key election information from the League of Women Voters.
- VoteRiders - Find out what forms of ID you can use to register and vote, and get help getting a valid form of ID.
Full Registration Details
By Mail: ID Requirements
To submit a voter registration application by mail in the District of Columbia, you must provide your District of Columbia driver's license number OR Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV)-issued ID number, if you have one. If you do not have either of these ID numbers, you must instead provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you have not been issued any of these ID numbers, indicate this on the form.
By Mail: Eligibility Requirements
To register in the District of Columbia you must:
be a United States citizen (required to vote in federal elections. If you are District of Columbia resident and not a US citizen, you can vote in DC local elections)
be a resident of the District of Columbia for at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote
not claim voting residence or the right to vote in another US state, territory or country
be at least 17 years old (you may register to vote if you are at least 16 years old. You may vote in a primary election if you are at least 17 years old and you will be at least 18 years old by the next general election. You may vote in a general or special election if you are at least 18 years old.)
not have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote
By Mail: New Voter Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in the District of Columbia and submit your registration application by mail, federal law requires you to provide a COPY of proof of identification with your application OR show acceptable documentation when you vote. Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid photo ID OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address. More information about these requirements is available on the District of Columbia Board of Elections website.
Online Instructions
To register online in the District of Columbia online voter registration system, you must provide your District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles-issued ID number. If you do not have a DC DMV-issued ID, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have not been issued any of these numbers, check the box that indicates you do not have an ID number. If you are registering to vote in the District of Columbia for the first time and submit a voter registration application electronically, you may attach a copy of identification that shows your name and current address to the online form, or you may be required to show it the first time you vote in an election in the District of Columbia.
More information here.
About this information
This page presents a curated compilation of voting and election information, specifically geared toward high school students, their families, and educators.
Information about deadlines and voting laws is retrieved via the Democracy Works Elections API and was last retrieved on Aug 20th, 2026; the API compiles election guidance from official government sources and other vetted data providers, and details may change over time. Information concerning requirements for high schools is based on The Civics Center’s analysis of State Requirements for High School Voter Registration and was last updated on Aug 19th, 2026.
Information about youth turning 18 each year is from the U.S. Census, and information on the number of 18-year-olds who have not yet registered is based on applying TCC’s analysis of Census data and state voter files. We also provide links to trusted resources, including VoteRiders (for voter ID information) and Fair Elections Center (for information about laws governing voter registration drives).
These pages are offered for guidance only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult state election officials or an attorney if you have questions about any particular situation. We hope you find this useful. To cite our resources and original research, please provide links and/or cite The Civics Center.
© 2026 The Civics Center
