| Elections in the District of Columbia |
|---|
 |
The District of Columbia (a political division coterminous with Washington, D.C.) has had a system of direct voting since 1979, shortly after it gained home rule in 1973. Residents have the ability to place new legislation, or legislation recently passed by the city council, on the ballot for a popular vote. The district has three types of ballot measures that can be voted on in a general election: District Charter amendments, initiatives and referendums. In order to be placed on the ballot, supporters of a measure must gather signatures from registered voters.[1]
Since adopting this process, ballot measures have become a common part of the city's electoral system. As of 2022,[update] more than 150 different initiatives had been filed with the district, along with a significantly smaller number of referendums; of those, only 29 have met the required qualifications to be placed on the ballot.[2][3] Ballot measures have been used to legalize politically contentious policies such as local term limits, abolition of the tipped minimum wage,[4] cannabis use,[5] and advancements in the District of Columbia statehood movement.[6]
- ^ "Initiative Measures and Referenda". District of Columbia Board of Elections. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ Master Initiative and Initiative Measure List (Report). District of Columbia Board of Elections. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ Master Referendum List (Report). District of Columbia Board of Elections. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Gomezwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Daviswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Hersherwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search