Democratic Equality for D.C.

"There is no right more basic to democracy than the right to participate in electing our political leaders."
                                                    - Chief Justice John Roberts

DC Vote envisions a fairer America where residents of the nation’s capital are first class citizens. This will be evidenced by the District of Columbia gaining the freedom to control its own budget, pass its own laws without congressional interference, and have its citizens enjoy equal representation in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. 

The Facts

  • Washingtonians pay federal taxes, fight and die in wars, yet have no vote in Congress.
  • The denial of equal congressional voting rights to the citizens of Washington, DC is a serious human rights violation. It places the United States in contravention of numerous international human rights treaties and agreements including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
  • Unlike any jurisdiction in the nation, the local laws and local budget passed by local elected leaders require the approval of Congress.
  • A 2013 DC Vote national poll shows Americans strongly support equal representation and more local autonomy for the District of Columbia.
  • There is an active, robust movement to restore democratic equality to Washingtonians through national education and legislative advocacy.

Did You Know?

  • The District of Columbia is home to nearly 660,000 Americans living in more than 120 unique neighborhoods.
  • Federal officials are a tiny proportion of the population. More than fifty percent of residents have lived in DC at least twenty years. 
  • DC’s local economy is one of the strongest in the nation. At $12.5 billion, it is larger than the budgets of 12 states.
  • DC residents can vote for President, but have no voting representative in the House or U.S. Senate.

Additional Resources

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