Press Release: DC Board of Elections Kicks off Vote Safe DC Campaign

News Release — DC Board of Elections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 11, 2020

CONTACT: LaDawne White

Andrew Lee

Campaign Informs the Public of New June 2020 Voting Measures Amid Covid-19 Response

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the last month, officials from the DC Board of Elections have been executing the Vote Safe DC initiative, a public information campaign to announce changes to the 2020 June Primary Election and Ward 2 Special Election processes. The initiative features Public Service Announcements in radio, TV, print and broadcast outlets to encourage voters to request mail-in ballots for the upcoming June 2020 elections to protect the public and election workers. The campaign has also been training and providing community stakeholders, including elected officials, civic associations, and non-profit organizations, with resources to share with their networks and community members. On March 27, 2020, at a joint press conference with Mayor Bowser, Chairman D. Michael Bennett of the DC Board of Elections, said

“We take seriously our responsibility to administer elections that protect the public and our workers while ensuring every vote is counted. To that end, today we announce the kickoff of the VoteSafeDC campaign to ensure every voter is informed about how these changes impact them. The PSA campaign will reach District voters via the mediums they use most, including digital, print, broadcast, and other platforms. In addition to this effort, DCBOE is partnering with members of the community through virtual roundtables and trainings to get the word out about the mail-in ballot process and ensure that every registered voter can safely cast their ballot in our upcoming elections.”

The campaign is available in both English and Spanish and has appeared in dozens of community and DC publications. VoteSafeDC messaging and an overview of the process has appeared consistently via social media and digital platforms, and will continue to be pushed out over the next month on numerous radio, print, digital and broadcast outlets.

“We are pleased that District voters are requesting their ballots in greater numbers and choosing to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming June elections safely and securely,” said Rachel Coll, spokeswoman for the DC Board of Elections. “DCBOE will continue to work with our community partners to get the word out and ensure that every vote is counted and all District residents are empowered to have their voices heard in our democratic process.”

Radio and television programs will feature the Public Service Announcements in a variety of community and broadcast outlets.
On a weekly basis for the past month, DCBOE has hosted virtual roundtables and meetings to inform community groups of mail-in ballot process: coordinating closely with members of the DC Council, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, and community/civic organizations.

DCBOE representatives have hosted four community meetings per week featuring civic associations, DC council members, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners and candidates for public office. Nearly a dozen community and neighborhood association meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks.

Voters can request mail-in ballots online at https://www.vote4dc.com/ApplyInstructions/Absentee or via our mobile app (vote4dc). The app is fully operational and has been redesigned for Android users and iPhone users alike, to access from their devices. Voters can call the DCBOE directly at (202) 741-5283 and request an application for their absentee ballot, or they can fax (202) 347-2648, mail or email a ballot request form. The Board’s email address is DCAbsentee@dcboe.org. (Please note: the “in person” drop-off option is currently unavailable as DCBOE is closed to the public until further notice.)

DCBOE will focus on the recommended means of prevention as outlined at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/ as well as the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/community/electionpollinglocations.html). As the Primary Election approaches, DCBOE will continue coordinating with federal and local health officials and will implement any appropriate safeguards to minimize the risk for voters and election workers.

For voters who cannot vote by mail for some reason, DCBOE offers in person, accessible voting for the June 2, 2020 Primary Election from Friday, May 22, 2020, up to and including Election Day on June 2, 2020, at 20 vote centers throughout the District. Vote Centers will be closed on Memorial Day, May 25.

The District of Columbia Board of Elections is an independent agency of the District government responsible for the administration of elections, ballot access and voter registration.

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