The Board of Elections is giving out nomination petitions for the next Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) elections.
Interested candidates will then have until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 8th, to return petitions with a minimum of 25 signatures from registered voters who also live in the Single Member District (SMD) that candidates wish to represent.
On November 6th, Election Day, the voters will make their selection. The winning candidates will be sworn in and then take office after noon on January 2, 2019.
An ANC is a non-partisan, neighborhood body made up of locally elected representatives called Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. They are a unique feature of the District’s Home Rule Charter. The ANCs were established in 1976 to bring government closer to the people, and to bring the people closer to government.
Commissioners serve two-year unpaid terms. Their main duty is to be their neighborhood’s official voice in advising the District government (and Federal agencies) on things that affect their neighborhoods.
Although not required to follow the ANC advice, District agencies are required to give ANC recommendations “great weight.” District law says that agencies cannot take any action that will significantly affect a neighborhood unless they provided 30-day notice to ANCs 30 days advance notice. This includes zoning, streets, recreation, education, social services, sanitation, planning, safety, budget, and health services.
The ANC may also initiate recommendations for improving city services, conduct neighborhood improvement programs, and monitor resident complaints.
Candidates must go to the Board personally to pick up their petitions. They may send a representative with a letter authorizing them to pick up the petitions on their behalf.
In addition to the petitions, the Board will also give the candidates a list of the registered voters who live in their SMD and a map of the SMD boundaries. Candidates will also need to file a Declaration of Candidacy before the August 8th deadline.
To qualify to running for ANC Commissioner, a candidate must be a registered voter and have lived in the SMD for 60 days (by June 9, 2018) before submitting nomination.
The Board of Elections is located at a new location at 1015 Half Street SE in suite 750. Get more information by visiting the DC Board of Elections and Ethics website or call (202) 727-2525.
