Elections in the District of Columbia

According to the [[Article One of the United States Constitution|Article One of the Constitution]], only states may be represented in the [[United States Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organization of the House of Representatives |website=[[Constitution Annotated]] |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |url=https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S2-C1-1/ALDE_00001031/ |access-date=2021-03-08 |url-status=live |archive-date=2020-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805085523/https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S2-C1-1/ALDE_00001031/}}</ref> The District of Columbia is not a U.S. state and therefore [[District of Columbia voting rights|has no voting representation]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Ellis |first=Jessica |title=Does Washington DC Have a Governor, Senators and Representatives? |date=December 9, 2022 |publisher=United States Now |url=https://www.unitedstatesnow.org/does-washington-dc-have-a-governor-senators-and-representatives.htm |access-date=2022-12-26}}</ref>

According to the [[Article One of the United States Constitution|Article One of the Constitution]], only states may be represented in the [[United States Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organization of the House of Representatives |website=[[Constitution Annotated]] |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |url=https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S2-C1-1/ALDE_00001031/ |access-date=2021-03-08 |url-status=live |archive-date=2020-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805085523/https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S2-C1-1/ALDE_00001031/}}</ref> The District of Columbia is not a U.S. state and therefore [[District of Columbia voting rights|has no voting representation]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Ellis |first=Jessica |title=Does Washington DC Have a Governor, Senators and Representatives? |date=December 9, 2022 |publisher=United States Now |url=https://www.unitedstatesnow.org/does-washington-dc-have-a-governor-senators-and-representatives.htm |access-date=2022-12-26}}</ref>

In 1970, Congress enacted the [[District of Columbia Delegate Act]], which established the [[District of Columbia's at-large congressional district]] and permitted residents to elect a [[Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives|non-voting delegate]] to the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Delegate Walter Fauntroy of the District of Columbia |website=History, Art, & Archives |publisher=[[United States House of Representatives]] |url=https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/Delegate-Walter-Fauntroy-of-the-District-of-Columbia/ |access-date=2022-12-26}}</ref> Nearly 100 years prior in the 1870s, the congressional district briefly existed before Congress abolished it in favor of direct rule.<ref name="Gibbs">{{cite news |last= Gibbs |first=C. R. |title=The District Had a Voice, If Not a Vote, in the 42nd Congress |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 2, 1989 |page=DC3 |via=[[ProQuest]] |url= https://www.proquest.com/docview/140076816/ |access-date=2022-12-26 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 1970, Congress enacted the [[District of Columbia Delegate Act]], which established the [[District of Columbia's at-large congressional district]] and permitted residents to elect a [[Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives|non-voting delegate]] to the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Delegate Walter Fauntroy of the District of Columbia |website=History, Art, & Archives |publisher=[[United States House of Representatives]] |url=https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/Delegate-Walter-Fauntroy-of-the-District-of-Columbia/ |access-date=2022-12-26}}</ref> Nearly 100 years prior in the 1870s, the congressional district briefly existed before Congress abolished it in favor of direct rule.<ref name="Gibbs">{{cite news |last= Gibbs |first=C. R. |title=The District Had a Voice, If Not a Vote, in the 42nd Congress |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 2, 1989 |page=DC3 |id={{ProQuest|140076816}} |url= https://www.proquest.com/docview/140076816/ |access-date=2022-12-26 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The majority of residents want the district [[District of Columbia statehood movement|to become a state]] and gain full voting representation in Congress.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |title=District Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Referendum to Make D.C. the 51st State |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 8, 2016 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/district-voters-overwhelmingly-approve-referendum-to-make-dc-the-51st-state/2016/11/08/ff2ca5fe-a213-11e6-8d63-3e0a660f1f04_story.html |access-date=2022-12-24 |url-access=limited}}</ref> To prepare for this goal, the district has elected shadow representatives and shadow senators since 1990. The [[Shadow congressperson|shadow congresspeople]] emulate the role of representing the district in the House and Senate and push for statehood alongside the House delegate.<ref>{{cite news |title=What does DC's 'Shadow Delegation' to Congress Actually Do? |work=[[WUSA9]] |date=November 2, 2018 |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/what-does-dcs-shadow-delegation-to-congress-actually-do/65-610751392 |access-date=2022-12-26}}</ref>

The majority of residents want the district [[District of Columbia statehood movement|to become a state]] and gain full voting representation in Congress.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |title=District Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Referendum to Make D.C. the 51st State |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 8, 2016 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/district-voters-overwhelmingly-approve-referendum-to-make-dc-the-51st-state/2016/11/08/ff2ca5fe-a213-11e6-8d63-3e0a660f1f04_story.html |access-date=2022-12-24 |url-access=limited}}</ref> To prepare for this goal, the district has elected shadow representatives and shadow senators since 1990. The [[Shadow congressperson|shadow congresspeople]] emulate the role of representing the district in the House and Senate and push for statehood alongside the House delegate.<ref>{{cite news |title=What does DC's 'Shadow Delegation' to Congress Actually Do? |work=[[WUSA9]] |date=November 2, 2018 |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/what-does-dcs-shadow-delegation-to-congress-actually-do/65-610751392 |access-date=2022-12-26}}</ref>