The District is a step closer to being able to more flexibly schedule it's own elections, but it's still a mighty big step.
D.C. a Step Away From More Flexibilty in Scheduling Elections
Do Your Democratic Duty and Vote for T-Shirts and Charity
If you missed it yesterday, we opened up voting in a little contest to help design a DCist t-shirt and choose a charity that will benefit from the sales.
Poll: DCist T-Shirt Slogans, Charity To Benefit From Sales
DCist t-shirts at last, with profits going to charity! The logo appears on the front, with optional slogan or graphic on the back. Vote for your favorite slogans and charity now.
Sign Here, Please
It's about that time again -- starting today, candidates for the April 3, 2012 D.C. primary election will be out gathering signatures to get themselves on the ballot.
BOEE Extends In-Person Absentee Voting Hours
As we noted on Tuesday, regardless of whether the government shuts down, the District will continue its preparations for its April 26 city-wide special election. As part of those preparations, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics announced today that it will be extend hours for in-person absentee voting until 8 p.m. on Mondays through Saturday, beginning on Monday, April 11.
PSA: Check Your Voter Registration Today
If you're registered to vote in the District, but you've moved or changed political affiliations since the last time you went to the polls and are planning on voting in the April 26 special election, you'll want to check out the Board of Election and Ethics website today -- it's the last day for D.C. voters to update their records via mail before the citywide election.
Effort To Secure D.C. Voting Rights Hits Lull As Legislation Dies
When Mayor-elect Vince Gray sits down with President Barack Obama for lunch this Wednesday, D.C. voting rights will surely be on the agenda. But even if Gray complains about Obama's inattentiveness to the issue, there's not really much that the President can do at this point to help the city in its quest to be something other than a modern-day federal colony.
Hear, Hear Harry Thomas, Jr.
During the debate that preceded yesterday's same-sex marriage vote, few D.C. Council members had to worry about the political implications of their decision. But one undeniably did, and voted for the legislation anyway -- Ward 5's Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr. (D).
Same-Sex Marriage Passes D.C. Council, 11-2
No big surprises in the first D.C. Council vote on legalizing same-sex marriage: the Council today voted 11-2 to approve the "Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009," with Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) the only dissenters.
Ward 6 Democrats Endorse Same-Sex Marriage
Yesterday we reported that after an acrimonious debate, on Monday the Ward 5 Democrats voted 87-51 against endorsing any plans to legalize same-sex marriage in the District. The vote followed in the wake of the Ward 8 Democrats weekend vote in favor same-sex marriage. Yesterday, the Ward 6 Democrats chimed in, overwhelmingly siding with marriage equality in a 73-3 vote. Charles Allen, president of the Ward 6 Democrats and Chief of Staff to Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), said in a press release, “Equal and full civil rights are core principles of the Democratic Party and that was affirmed again tonight by the Ward 6 Democrats." The Democratic committees of Ward 2 and Ward 4 have also voted to support marriage equality.
Could Bad Economy Spell Good Things For Voting Rights?
The U.S. Senate is set to debate legislation granting the District of Columbia a voting seat in the House of Representatives on Monday, with a vote predicted for Tuesday. That would pave the way for an expected vote to endorse the legislation in the House and, at long last, something approaching voting rights for District residents. Of course, opponents of the legislation have threatened a quick legal challenge, but interestingly, The Hill reported yesterday that it doesn't seem like anyone is stepping up to the plate. Lawsuits don't file themselves, and though there are many an opponent to the measure, neither think tanks nor advocacy groups seem to be too excited to pony up the expected $750,000 to $1 million for the legal bills. Even some of the legislation's most ardent foes on the Hill seem to want to find someone else to do the heavy lifting on this one. Supporters of the legislation, on the other hand, have already started crafting a defense. Recession -- the best thing to happen to D.C. voting rights in a generation? Maybe.
Where and When to Vote Tomorrow
No doubt most of you recently got your polling information in the mail along with your voter guide. Just in case, here is your one-stop linkage to everything you need to know about where and when to be on election day tomorrow.

