Washington, D.C., City Council Gives Preliminary Approval to Moving Presidential Primary from April to June

On December 2, the Washington, D.C. city council voted 10-3 in favor of B20-0265. It moves the presidential primary from early April to the second Tuesday in June. It also moves the primary for other office from April to the first Tuesday in September.

Before 2012, the primary for office other than President was the second Tuesday in September. That date was abandoned because of the Congressional mandate that all jurisdictions holding federal elections send out overseas absentee ballots no later than 45 days before any primary or election. But holding the primary on the first week in September should handle that problem. States that still hold congressional primaries in September are Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

If the Republican Party decides to hold its national convention in late June, the proposed Washington, D.C. presidential primary date of the second Tuesday in June won’t be practical, and this area of the law will need to be revisited again. Thanks to Bruce Majors for this news.


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