1600.1 This chapter governs the process by which candidates seek nomination to the offices of Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, Mayor, Chairman and Members of the Council of the District of Columbia, Attorney General, U.S. Senator, U.S Representative, Members of the State Board of Education, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner.
1600.2 For purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise provided, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
(a) The term "authorized political party" means a political party that was organized prior to and continuously from the passage of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, approved August 12, 1955 (69 Stat. 699; D.C. Official Code §§ 1-1001.01et seq.), or whose name has been approved by the Board pursuant to the rules of this chapter;(b) The term "major party" means an authorized political party which is qualified to hold a party primary for partisan offices pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.08(h)(2);(c) The term "minor party" means an authorized political party which is not qualified to hold a party primary for partisan offices pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.08(h)(2);(d) The term "District partisan office" means the offices of Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, Mayor, Chairman and Members of the Council of the District of Columbia, Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and U.S Representative;(e) The term "direct nomination" ("nominated directly") means seeking nomination during an election other than a primary pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.08(j)(1);(f) The term "qualified petition circulator" means an individual who is:(1) At least 17 years of age and who will be 18 years of age on or before the next general election; and(2) Either a resident of the District of Columbia, or a resident of another jurisdiction who has registered as a petition circulator with the Board in accordance with this chapter.(g) The term "independent" refers to an individual who is not affiliated with any authorized political party.1600.3 Each candidate for District partisan office shall seek nomination as a candidate who is either:
(a) Registered with a major party;(b) Registered with a minor party; or(c) Registered as an independent.1600.4 Any person who seeks nomination as a candidate for District partisan office and who is registered with a major party shall be required to seek nomination during such political party's primary election. No person who is registered with a major party shall be nominated directly as a candidate for District partisan office in any general election.
1600.5 No person shall be nominated directly for District partisan office in a general election if such person's name was printed upon a ballot of any immediately preceding primary election for that office.
1600.6 Notwithstanding Subsections 1600.4 and 1600.5, a major party may nominate an individual to fill a vacancy in the position of candidate and be placed on the ballot as that party's candidate for a District partisan office in a general election pursuant to D.C. Official Code §§ 1-1001.10(b)(1) and (d)(1). The individual the major party nominates may appear on the general election ballot provided that:
(a) He or she meets the qualifications for holding the office sought; and(b) The party submits the individual's name to the Board on or before the fifty-fourth (54th) day before the general election.1600.7 Each candidate seeking nomination of any authorized political party shall be registered with such party.
1600.8 No person who is registered with any authorized political party shall be permitted to seek direct nomination as an independent candidate.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 3, r. 3-1600
Final Rulemaking published at 36 DCR 8364 (December 15, 1989); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 43 DCR 1078, 1108-09 (March 1, 1996); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 44 DCR 689 (February 7, 1997); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 5582 (April 12, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 625 (January 24, 2014); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 14744 (11/13/2015); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 12730 (9/22/2023)Authority: The District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, as amended, approved August 12, 1955 (69 Stat. 699; D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.05(a)(14) (2012 Repl.)).