Plain English Breakdown
The official status label indicates 'Enacted' while the digest notes 'Under Congressional Review'; the law only takes effect after this review period concludes.
Special Election in the Office of Delegate Amendment Act of 2026
This law updates District election rules to allow a special election for the U.S. House Representative from Washington, D.C., within 49 days if extraordinary circumstances occur.
What This Bill Does
- Amends the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 to add new rules for filling vacancies in the Delegate's office during extraordinary circumstances.
- Requires that a vacancy be filled according to federal law (2 U.S.C. §8(b)) if extraordinary circumstances exist as defined by section 26(b)(4)(A) of the Revised Statutes of the United States.
- Sets a timeline requiring the vacancy to be filled within 49 days after the Speaker of the House announces that a vacancy exists.
- States that this new rule applies even if it conflicts with other existing District laws regarding vacancies.
Who It Names or Affects
- The Council of the District of Columbia
- Voters and residents of Washington, D.C. who elect a Delegate to Congress
Terms To Know
- Delegate
- The representative from Washington, D.C., in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Extraordinary circumstances
- Specific situations defined by federal law (2 U.S.C. §8(b)(4)(A)) that allow for a special election process to be used.
Limits and Unknowns
- The exact date the law takes effect depends on approval by the Mayor and a 30-day review period by Congress.
- The text does not list specific examples of what counts as 'extraordinary circumstances' beyond referencing federal statutes.