VOTER SERVICES
Our Voter Services Team informs, registers and engages D.C. voters, with special focus on youth, new citizens and immigrants, justice-impacted persons, and residents of underrepresented voting communities. We collaborate with like-minded allies to extend our reach to as many potential voters as possible. We provide voter registration training, registration materials, volunteers for registration events, and information and education that fosters civic engagement such as the VOTE411.org election information website and candidate forums. Descriptions of some of our core activities follow.
Please visit our Democracy Tools page for more information about our activities and resources to help you learn about and engage in civic life in D.C.
Justice-Impacted Voters
D.C.’s justice-impacted residents are fully enfranchised. D.C. individuals’ criminal legal status creates location and logistical impediments to voting, but never causes them to lose their right to cast a ballot. The Justice -Impacted Voters (JIV) team offers current and former incarcerated residents the tools and knowledge to be fully engaged voters, allowing them to exercise their fundamental civic rights.
Our LWVDC team supports D.C. residents in the D.C. Jail, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, and activities offered by community allies and D.C. government for returning citizens.
In 2026, because the Federal Bureau of Prisons is no longer working with third party organizations, LWVDC has intensified its registration and education efforts in the D.C. Jail, in order to reach as many voters as possible before they transfer into BOP custody. We conduct at least bi-monthly visits inside the Jail. During these visits, we provide civic education lessons, register voters, answer voting questions, and distribute VOTE411 candidate guides before elections.
Our volunteers also serve as election observers to continue our nonpartisan and public reporting of the polling location inside the Jail.
With over a decade of experience in programming for this targeted population, LWVDC is considered by Department of Corrections staff to be the lead partner to provide civic education and voter registration within the Jail. We are frequently asked by staff and Council staff to provide feedback and ideas to evolve policy decisions as they impact incarcerated voters. In 2026, we will work with the DOC to study incarcerated voters’ experiences to further inform Jail staff and community partners about the needs of these voters.
LWVDC will undertake voter education and vote411.org voter guide mailing to D.C. residents in BOP facilities.
We have increased our partnerships within the D.C. community, tabling at re-entry fairs hosted by the mayor's office and community partners who specialize in working with formerly incarcerated individuals.
Click on Voting While Incarcerated to learn more.
Email lwvdc@lwvdc.org with the subject line "Justice-Impacted Voters" with any questions or to join the JIV team.
New Citizens & Immigrants
Naturalization ceremonies are among the most inspiring events that the League supports across the U.S. In D.C., over 100 new citizens are sworn in the second Tuesday of each month at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Our goal is to inspire these new citizens to become registered voters. We do that by showing up, welcoming them and assisting in the registration process on the spot right after the swearing-in ceremony.
We continuously strengthen these voter registration drives by not only providing direct, in-real-time voter registration assistance but also distributing educational materials on D.C. government structure and voting, contact information for follow-up questions, and multilingual information and support. In coordination with Court officials, we work to maximize civic access for new citizens, enable League leaders to address the candidates for citizenship, and encourage the Court to emphasize the importance of voting and civic engagement—highlighting the League as the organization carrying out this mission.
We provide additional outreach to immigrant and new citizen communities—in person, through print, via social media and by leveraging trusted organizations. We have established relationships with local immigrant support organizations that invite us to speak at events, educate voters, and provide registration assistance. We maintain similar relationships with local community organizations.
Email lwvdc@lwvdc.org with the subject line "Naturalizations" with any questions. Members can sign up to register new citizens using our event calendar.
Youth Voters
LWVDC is committed to engaging our young voters in democracy. In 2026, our focus will be on preparing youth to participate in the Primary and General Elections. Now, more than ever, it’s important that young D.C. residents use their voice to elect leaders who will stand up for them and their rights.
We use a peer-to-peer approach to engage D.C. youth (16-27 years), working with organizations whose mission is to encourage civic engagement for that age group, especially organizations that work with youth in communities that are underrepresented in voting. We provide training and assist with voter registration and organize special events to focus on issues that matter most to young people.
This work involves ensuring young residents have access to voter registration opportunities by meeting them where they are; providing youth with voter education, including information about ranked choice voting which is new to D.C. and will be used in our 2026 elections; providing civic education at high schools; and getting more young people involved with LWVDC.
We build into our high school tabling sessions and presentations information about civics through the lens of the importance of voting as well as education about what D.C.’s lack of statehood means and why it matters. LWVDC has been incredibly successful in educating both local D.C. students and students from across the country about these issues.
We work with the D.C. Board of Elections, local and national organizations, colleges, high schools, and educators to provide voter education and voter registration opportunities to youth.
LWVDC aims to get more young people involved with the League. We have found that the best way to engage youth is to have our young members lead youth presentations and events. LWVDC has launched a pilot program for youth fellows. On the high school front, we work to increase the number of high school students who volunteer with us. LWVDC is listed on D.C. Public Schools’ official website of community service opportunities for students. In Spring 2026, LWVDC will ramp up our work to host community-focused events and promote opportunities for DCPS students to volunteer with us.
Email lwvdc@lwvdc.org with the subject line "Youth Voters" with any questions or to learn more about how to get engaged.