District of Columbia Petition Signature Requirements (2026)
How many signatures you need to qualify for the ballot in District of Columbia, the 2026 petition filing windows, and how to validate your signatures against the District of Columbia voter file.
Signature requirements by office
| Office | Minimum signatures | % of enrolled voters |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor, Attorney General, City Councilor (At-Large), U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative | — | 1% |
| City Councilor | — | 0.5% |
2026 petition deadlines
Mayor, Attorney General, City Councilor (At-Large), U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative; City Councilor
- Primary petition opens:
- January 23, 2026
- Primary petition deadline:
- March 4, 2026
- General petition opens:
- June 17, 2026
- General petition deadline:
- August 5, 2026
- Primary election:
- June 16, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
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Start validating freeDistrict of Columbia petition rules & details
Primary petition — signature rules
Citywide candidates need 2,000 signatures from registered party voters citywide for the primary. US Senate (Shadow) / US Rep (Delegate or Shadow): 2,000 sigs.
Primary petition — deadline rules
Major-party petition window opens January 23, filing deadline March 4, 2026.
General petition — signature rules
Independent candidates need signatures equal to 1% of registered voters citywide (~5,000).
General petition — deadline rules
Independent / non-major-party petitions due 90 days before general (~Aug 5, 2026).
Primary petition — signature rules
Ward-level Council candidates need 250 signatures from registered party voters in the ward.
Primary petition — deadline rules
Major-party petition window opens January 23, filing deadline March 4, 2026. Wards 1, 3, 5, 7 on the 2026 ballot.
General petition — signature rules
Independent ward candidates need 250 signatures from registered voters in the ward.
General petition — deadline rules
Independent / write-in candidates file by ~Aug 5, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many signatures do I need to get on the ballot in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia signature requirements vary by office. Mayor, Attorney General, City Councilor (At-Large), U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative: 1% of enrolled voters; City Councilor: 0.5% of enrolled voters. See the full table above for all offices.
What is the 2026 petition filing deadline in District of Columbia?
For the 2026 cycle in District of Columbia, the primary petition deadline is March 4, 2026, and the general petition deadline is August 5, 2026. Confirm exact dates for your office above and with your election authority.
Can I validate District of Columbia petition signatures myself?
Yes. Petition Validator lets you upload petition pages and automatically matches each signer against the District of Columbia voter file — checking registration, address, and duplicates in seconds per signature. You can start free, no paid Victory Waves account required.
How does signature validation work?
You upload images of your petition pages; our system transcribes each signature and matches the signer's name, address, and date against official voter registration data to confirm they're a registered voter in the correct jurisdiction.
Last updated for the 2026 cycle on May 26, 2026. Always confirm requirements and deadlines with your state or local election authority.