[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPECIAL ELECTIONS HOME RULE 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2022

  Ms. NORTON. Madam 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, like other jurisdictions. This bill simply 
removes a D.C. 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 enacted 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 occurring more than 114 days after a 
vacancy and allowed the Board to schedule special elections on the same 
day as the next general election if that election occurred within 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. The 2012 law requires the Board to hold a special election 
on a Tuesday occurring between 70 and 174 days after a vacancy.
  This bill is an important step to perfect home rule for the District. 
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________