D.C. Law 23-112. Improving Voter Registration for New Tenants and Homeowners Amendment Act of 2020.
AN ACT
To amend the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 to require the District of Columbia Board of Elections to develop and post on its website a voter registration packet for new tenants and homeowners; to amend the District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999 to include voter registration packets in the Public Housing Resident Bill of Rights; to amend the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency Act to provide that certain prospective tenants shall receive the voter registration packet; to amend the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to provide that the disclosure form published by the Rent Administrator shall include a voter registration packet; and to amend Subchapter II of Subchapter 8 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code to require the Mayor to include in the application for the homestead deduction the voter registration packet.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Improving Voter Registration for New Tenants and Homeowners Amendment Act of 2020".
Sec. 2. Section 5(a) of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, approved August 12, 1955 (69 Stat. 700; D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.05(a)), is amended as follows:
(a) Paragraph (18) is amended by striking the phrase "; and" and inserting a semicolon in its place.
(b) Paragraph (19)(D) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase "; and" in its place.
(c) A new paragraph (20) is added to read as follows:
"(20) Develop and post on the Board's website a voter registration packet for new tenants and homeowners, which shall constitute a vital document for the purposes of
"(A) A voter registration application;
"(B) Information concerning:
"(i) Online voter registration;
"(ii) Updating a voter's address;
"(iii) The voting rights in the District of individuals with criminal records; and
"(iv) Voter registration information for high school and college students; and
"(C) A weblink to the Board's website, which shall identify:
"(i) The date of the next scheduled election;
"(ii) Polling place locations;
"(iii) The names and positions of current elected officials in the District; and
"(iv) How to search for an individual's Ward Councilmember, Ward State Board of Education member, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner.".
Sec. 3. The District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999, effective May 9, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-105; D.C. Official Code § 6-201 et seq.), is amended as follows:
(a) Redesignate section 26e (D.C. Official Code § 6-232) as section 26g.
(b) The newly redesignated section 26g is amended by adding a new subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
"(b-1) The Bill of Rights shall also include the voter registration packet developed by the District of Columbia Board of Elections pursuant
Sec. 4. Section 308 of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency Act, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-135; D.C. Official Code § 42-2703.08), is amended by adding a new subsection (g) to read as follows:
"(g) At the time a prospective tenant of any unit receives notice pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, a prospective tenant shall also receive the voter registration packet developed by the District of Columbia Board of Elections pursuant to
Sec. 5. The Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Official Code § 42-3501.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:
(a) Section 222(b) (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.22(b)) is amended by adding a new paragraph (1B) to read as follows:
"(1B) The disclosure form published by the Rent Administrator, as required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall include the voter registration packet developed by the District of Columbia Board of Elections pursuant to
(b) Section 509 (D.C. Official Code § 42-3509.09) is redesignated as section 909.
Sec. 6. Subchapter II of Chapter 8 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as follows:
(a) Section 47-850(b) is amended by striking the phrase "form prescribed by the Mayor." and inserting the phrase "form prescribed by the Mayor. The Mayor shall include in the application prescribed pursuant to this subsection the voter registration packet developed by the District of Columbia Board of Elections pursuant to § 1-1001.05(a)(20)." in its place.
(b) Section 47-850.01(c) is amended by striking the phrase "form prescribed by the Mayor." and inserting the phrase "form prescribed by the Mayor. The Mayor shall include in the application prescribed pursuant to this subsection the voter registration packet developed by the District of Columbia Board of Elections pursuant to § 1-1001.05(a)(20)." in its place.
Sec. 7. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
Sec. 8. Effective date.
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.
