Our Ward 3 2024 primary voter guide – and a historical reason for exercising your voting rights

The UDC Student Center is an early vote center.

by Marlene Berlin

Have you voted in the DC primary election yet? If you’ve already marked and sent off your mail-in ballot, you’re all set. And if you’re like me and you prefer to vote in person, or you did not receive a ballot in the mail, or you haven’t registered to vote, this guide’s for you.

The primary is on June 4th. Mail-in voting is currently under way. Completed ballots can also be taken to designated drop boxes until 8 p.m. on June 4th. In Ward 3, they’re located at the ward’s four libraries, the Second District police station (3320 Idaho Avenue) and the Guy Mason Recreation Center (3600 Calvert Street).

If you are a registered voter and your ballot did not arrive in the mail, it’s a good idea to check your voter registration status. If it checks out, you’re good to go for in-person voting.

If you are not registered, collect the identification documents listed here, and head to one of the early vote centers or Election Day vote centers. To vote in the primary, you will need to register under a party: Republican, Democrat or Green Statehood.

The early vote centers open for in-person voting on Sunday, May 26th. The last day of early voting is Sunday, June 2nd. The early vote centers will open every day except Memorial Day (on May 27th) from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Ward 3 locations are the Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Avenue), the Cleveland Park Library (3310 Connecticut), and the UDC Student Center (4200 Connecticut).

The Election Day vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 4th. The Ward 3 locations include Murch Elementary (4810 36th Street NW) and Janney Elementary (4130 Albemarle Street). But you may vote or register at any location across the District.

Murch Elementary is one of the Ward 3 Election Day vote centers.

The DC Board of Elections homepage is currently dedicated to the primary, with links further explaining all of the above, accessibility services, and more.

New in 2024

Non-citizen DC residents can vote in local elections, which means federal offices like the president and the DC delegate are excluded from their ballots. But they can cast votes for DC Council members. In Ward 3, the only local office on their primary ballot is the at-large Council race. The Democrats’ ballot shows the two candidates vying for the position: incumbent Robert White and Rodney Red Grant. The local-only ballot for the Statehood Green Party lists Darryl Moch. There is no Republican Party candidate.

The national offices on the primary ballot include the candidates for president and for DC delegate to the House of Representatives. Here’s the list, by party.

By the way, 2024 is the 50th anniversary of Home Rule. In 1974, DC residents could vote for mayor and council candidates for the first time in nearly a century. This year is also the 60th anniversary of the first presidential election that included DC voter participation. The disenfranchisement was by design, and motivated by racism. Consider that your motivation to exercise your rights.