[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 209 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1252]
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

                       Tuesday, December 19, 2023

  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, like other jurisdictions. This bill would remove a 
limitation in the D.C. Home Rule Act that is not only inconsistent with 
the self-government granted by the Home Rule Act, but is also harmful.
  In 2012, I got legislation enacted that gave the D.C. Board of 
Elections (Board) more flexibility to set the date of special elections 
for local offices. Although I sought complete authority for D.C. to set 
the date of special elections, the 2012 law did not include this home-
rule principle.
  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 D.C. to hold a special election separate from an upcoming 
general election, costing D.C. 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 D.C. I urge 
my colleagues to support this bill.

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