Press Release: DCBOE Announces Addition of ESA as a Super Vote Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2020

Contact: Nick Jacobs

Expanding Voting Opportunities East of the River

WASHINGTON, DC — The District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE) has today announced the addition of the Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) in Ward 8 as a Super Vote Center.

While the DCBOE sought earlier to use the ESA as a Super Center to accommodate voters in Wards 7 and 8, it had been informed that it was unavailable. That position changed this week and, after visiting the facility, the DCBOE is pleased to now be able to utilize the space in time for the Early Voting period beginning October 27, 2020 and the November 3 General Election.

“We are pleased EventsDC reversed its earlier decision and has made the ESA available to the DCBOE and the voters East of the River,” said D. Michael Bennett, DCBOE Chair. “While we’ve had to shift some resources around to make this happen, it will not impact voting opportunities in any way and in fact, we believe, will make it easier for voters to easily and safely cast their ballots.”

The ESA is located at 1100 Oak Drive, SE.

Because DCBOE equipment had already been allocated to 95 Vote Centers and 32 Early Vote Centers throughout the City, some reallocation of resources was necessary. To that end, the Barry Farms Vote Center (1230 Sumner Road, SE) will not be opening, and the equipment and machines assigned to that Vote Center will be shifted to the ESA.

Other immaterial equipment adjustments will also be made that will have no impact elsewhere. Voters East of the River and across the City will have extensive options for efficient in-person voting during Election Week.

We are excited to materially increase in-person voting opportunities East of the River.

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

###