Protecting Election 2020 from Covid-19: A Toolkit for Washington, D.C. Activists

This is part of the Brennan Center’s Toolkits for Activists Across the Nation.

Jump to a section: 
Political Context  |  What’s in Place and What’s Needed  |  Key Dates

Administering an election under pandemic conditions requires undertaking steps to keep voting accessible, safe, and secure. The guide below lays out the problems Covid-19 poses, what preparedness measures Washington, D.C. has, and what changes are still needed. But first, we offer some political context for your advocacy.

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Advocacy Focus: Local Reform

Local officials have a lot of responsibility over elections. They are a great place to focus advocacy efforts. Though state officials can make any of the changes in this toolkit, we highlight some examples of changes that local elections officials can also make with this symbol:🔸

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Political Context

Below is a list of the relevant officials and information about the legislative session.

Mayor: Muriel Bowser (D)  

District of Columbia Board of Elections Chair: Michael Bennet

City Council Chair: Phil Mendelson (D)

What Washington, D.C. Has and What’s Needed

Three priorities. There are three key areas where we need to shore up our elections systems for success during a pandemic: registration, mail voting, and in-person voting.

Registration

Covid-19 may disrupt the traditional ways Americans register to vote, like get out the vote drives or registering at government agencies. In the crucial weeks before the registration deadline, postal service disruptions may lead many registration forms to arrive at election offices after the deadline.

Preparatory Measures Washington, D.C. Already Has Taken:

• Election Day voter registration

Changes Still Needed:

• Prepare to extend mail voter registration deadlines based on conditions in the state
• Online voter registration

Voting by Mail

Because of Covid-19, long lines and crowds at the polls pose health risks not seen in previous elections. Allowing every citizen to vote by mail reduces the number of people at the polls on Election Day and decreases the exposure risk to Covid-19.

Preparatory Measures Washington, D.C. Already Has Taken:

• All voters can vote by mail without an excuse
• No notary or witness requirement for return of mail ballot
• No ID requirement to vote by mail
• Provides pre-paid postage for voting by mail
• Accepts late-arriving ballots postmarked by Election Day
• Sends vote-by-mail ballots to all active registered voters who have not yet applied

Changes Still Needed:

• Online tool for requesting an absentee ballot for voters who did not receive their ballots in the mail
• Provide post-election notice and cure opportunity for defects on absentee-ballot envelope, including signature mismatch or missing signatures

In-Person Voting

Even with expanded mail voting opportunity, states cannot close polling places. To do so may disenfranchise voters without Internet and mail access, or those who do not wish to cast a ballot by mail. In-person voting must be done in accordance with health guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Preparatory Measures Washington, D.C. Already Has Taken:

• In-person early voting

Changes Still Needed:

• Ensure sufficient polling places are open and resourced on Election Day🔸
• Open more in-person early voting locations🔸
• Take proper public health precautions to ensure safe polling places🔸
• Hold training sessions for polling-place workers well in advance of Election Day, so that election officials can better anticipate problems with staffing and logistics🔸
• Increase access to curbside voting at polling locations

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Advocacy Focus: Protecting Polling Places

No matter how prepared Washington, D.C. is as a matter of policy, elections officials and advocates must stay vigilant about ensuring safe, healthy in-person voting is an option for everyone all the way through Election Day. Here are some important things to know about who makes decisions about polling places in Washington, D.C. and what rules govern the process:

• Privately owned space may be rented for use as a polling location upon the Board of Elections’ request to the Washington, D.C., government.🔸
• The Board of Elections is in charge of poll worker hiring and training.🔸

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Key Dates for Washington, D.C. Elections

• May 12, 2020: Deadline to register by mail for the Primary Election
• May 22 – June 2, 2020: Early voting period for the Primary Election
• June 2, 2020: Primary Election Day
• October 13, 2020: Deadline to register by mail for the General Election
• October 27 – November 2, 2020: Early voting period for the General Election
• November 3, 2020: General Election Day