Working to End Taxation Without Representation in America's Capital

Founded in 1998, DC Vote is an award-winning organization dedicated to securing full voting representation in Congress and full democracy for the more than half a million residents of the District of Columbia. Americans living in our nation's capital pay full federal taxes, fight and die in wars and serve on juries, but are denied voting representation in the House and the Senate.

While DC residents have an elected mayor and city council, all locally passed laws and the local budget must be sent to Congress for review and approval. In many cases, Congress overrules decisions of the local government. DC Vote is working to end this injustice and to protect DC's local democracy.

As the recognized leader and go-to source of information on the DC voting rights movement, we:

• advocate for enactment of critical DC voting rights legislation
• educate Americans across the nation about DC's status
• work to prevent congressional interference in DC's local democracy
• organize our supporters to contact Congress through call-in days, letter-writing campaigns and face-to-face advocacy
• engage our coalition partners, supporters and pro bono lobbyists to educate Congress
• serve as a resource to elected officials, the media and public

Our efforts led to the historic Senate passage of the DC Voting Rights Act (H.R.157/S.160) on February 26, 2009. As we work to pass this important bill, we continue to research and explore legislation to provide full local democracy and to make Washington, DC the 51st state in the union. With voting representation equal to that of other Americans, DC will be better empowered to end congressional interference in local matters, have an equal vote on important national issues and tackle local problems with more resources and greater freedom.

Can This Injustice Be Resolved?

Both Republicans and Democrats agree that all Americans deserve democracy. Opinions from conservative legal experts like Judge Kenneth Starr and Professor Viet D. Dinh support Congress' authority under the Constitution to give the District of Columbia voting representation in Congress through simple legislation. Congress does not need to amend the Constitution or make DC a state to give DC a vote in Congress. Read more about the DC voting rights legislation currently moving through Congress.

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