Voters in Washington, D.C. do not participate in determining which party controls Congress, yet they have the opportunity to influence the selection of the presidential candidate who will receive their three Electoral College votes.

Typically, this decision is expected to follow a predictable pattern, as the District is predominantly Democratic.

The spotlight on Election Day will likely shift to the City Council election in Ward 8, where incumbent Democrat Trayon White seeks to retain his seat. Normally, White’s success in the primary would suggest a solid chance of winning in the general election. However, he faces serious allegations of bribery related to pressuring city employees to extend contracts involving violence intervention services. White maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges.

Additionally, Initiative 83 has gained significant attention, presenting voters with the option to approve or reject a proposal for ranked choice voting in the District’s primary elections. This voting reform would allow voters to rank up to five candidates for each position and would make the primary accessible to all voters, regardless of party affiliation.

Residents will also cast their ballots for the city’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House, with Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton running for her 18th term. The unofficial shadow U.S. House seat and two shadow U.S. Senate seats are also up for election. Established in 1990, these shadow offices do not hold official Congressional status but serve to advocate for D.C. representation and statehood.

Projections about the election results will not be made until it is clear that no other outcomes are possible that could alter the standings of the candidates. If a race remains undecided, updates will continue to cover significant developments such as candidate concessions and victory announcements, clarifying that a winner has not been officially declared.

As the 2024 election approaches in Washington, D.C., here is a summary of what to anticipate:

**Election Day:** November 5.

**Poll Closing Time:** 8 p.m. ET.

**Presidential Electoral Votes:** 3 awarded to the overall winner in the District.

**Key Races and Candidates:** Presidential race featuring Harris (D), Trump (R), and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (independent); Ballot Measure for Initiative 83 concerning ranked choice voting; other significant positions include City Council, U.S. Delegate, Shadow U.S. Representative, and Shadow U.S. Senator.

**Previous Presidential Results:** In 2020, Biden (D) received 93% of the vote, while Trump (R) garnered just 5%. The race was called on November 3, 2020, at 9:27 p.m. ET.

**Voter Registration and Turnout:** As of August 31, 2024, there are 435,887 registered voters in the District, with approximately 76% identifying as Democrats, 5% as Republicans, and 17% as independents. Voter turnout for November 2020 was 66% of registered voters.

**Pre-Election Day Voting:** In the November 2020 election, 91% of the total vote was cast before Election Day. In 2022, 71% of voters cast early ballots. Relevant data for early voting in 2024 is provided via official tracking resources.

**Vote Counting Duration:** The first votes from the November 3, 2020 election were reported at 9:21 p.m. ET, with about 55% of total votes accounted for by midnight ET.

This reflection on the upcoming electoral process outlines the key factors shaping the upcoming elections in the nation’s capital.