Guide

ANC petitions and timeline

Getting on the ballot for your Advisory Neighborhood Commission comes down to a small stack of signatures and a few firm dates. Here is exactly what the petition requires and when each step happens.

What you need

25 valid signatures from registered voters in your single-member district is the legal minimum. We coach 50 so a challenge cannot touch you. The filing fee is $0.

Where to sign

You pick up your petition in person at DCBOE at 1015 Half Street SE. You sign your Declaration of Candidacy there in front of Board staff. It is free and never done at home. Here is a short guide to that step.

The timeline

Petitions open in early July. Filing closes in early August. The general election is in November. For 2026 the dates are:

• Petitions open: July 6
• File by: August 5
• Election: November 3

Always confirm the current dates at dcboe.org.

Make it count

Every signature is a neighbor who said yes. Gather with a friend and it goes faster. Track your progress in the candidate portal as you go. You can also look up your seat first.