[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPECIAL ELECTIONS HOME RULE 
                                  ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 5, 2018

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Special Elections Home Rule Act. This bill would give the District of 
Columbia complete authority to set the date of special elections for 
local offices, which other jurisdictions have. Our bill simply removes 
a Home Rule Act limitation on the District that is not only 
inconsistent with the self-government granted by the Home Rule Act, but 
is also counterproductive.
  This bill follows legislation we got through the Congress in 2012 
that gave the D.C. Board of Elections (``Board'') more flexibility to 
set the date of special elections for local offices to maximize voter 
participation. Although we sought complete authority for the District 
over the scheduling of special elections, the 2012 law, the District of 
Columbia Special Election Reform Act, did not include this home-rule 
principle. D.C. should have complete authority over a matter that is 
unrelated to any other congressional district and has no relevance to 
Congress.
  The Home Rule Act originally required the Board to hold special 
elections on the first Tuesday 114 days from when the vacancy occurred 
and allowed the Board to schedule special elections on the same day as 
the next general election if that election occurred 60 days from when a 
special election would otherwise have been held. This inflexibility led 
to special elections being held on religious holidays and forced the 
District to hold a special election separate from an upcoming general 
election, costing the District hundreds of thousands of dollars in 
extra election costs. The 2012 law required the Board to hold a special 
election on a Tuesday occurring between 70 and 174 days after the 
vacancy.
  Our bill is an important step to perfect home rule for the District. 
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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