The D.C. Board of Elections opens 55 mail ballot drop boxes across the city at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The boxes give every registered voter a round-the-clock option to return their general election ballot.

Drop boxes stay open 24 hours a day through 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, WUSA9 first reported. DCBOE will collect ballots from each box daily.

Each box has a locked deposit slot that remains open for voters to insert their ballots. Voters can also return completed ballots by U.S. mail or at any vote center.

DCBOE began mailing ballots to all eligible registered D.C. voters on Sept. 30, according to a DCBOE Facebook post. Voters who have not received their ballot by Oct. 30 should plan to vote in person.

Ballots arrive by mail. They can also leave by mail. Ballots sent through the U.S. Postal Service will be accepted up to 10 days after the election if postmarked by Nov. 3, according to the DCBOE website.

Ranked choice voting applies

This is the first general election in which D.C. voters will use ranked choice voting, or RCV. Voters approved the system by ballot initiative in 2024, and the D.C. Council funded it in the fiscal 2026 budget. RCV debuted in the June 2026 primary.

In contests with three or more candidates, voters may rank up to five candidates in order of preference. Ranking additional candidates does not hurt a voter's top choice. Eligible races include mayor, attorney general, Council chairman, Council members, delegate to the U.S. House, State Board of Education members, advisory neighborhood commissioners and D.C.'s shadow U.S. senator and representative seats, among others.

DCBOE offers practice ballots and information at dcboe.org/RCV. Voters can also schedule an in-person practice session by calling (202) 727-2525.

Other key dates

Oct. 13 is the last day to change party affiliation, according to the DCBOE homepage.

Early vote centers open Oct. 26 through Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, according to NBC Washington. Voters may cast ballots at any location regardless of home address.

To track a ballot's status, voters can sign up for BallotTrax at votedc.ballottrax.net/voter. Drop box locations are listed at dcboe.org.