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PR26-0499 • 2025

Petition Administration Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Petition Administration Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Bonds
Last action
2026-01-16
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the application of the resolution to initiative, referendum, or recall petitions beyond candidate nomination petitions.

Clarifying Rules for Election Petitions

This resolution clarifies rules regarding election petitions in Washington, D.C., by requiring circulators to sign affidavits stating they have not altered signer information after signatures are collected and prohibiting the use of whiteout or similar tools on signed petitions.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires petition circulators to sign an affidavit stating that they have not altered any information provided by a person who signed the petition, except in cases where the signer requests assistance before signing.
  • Prohibits anyone from altering signer information after a signature has been affixed on a petition.
  • Bans the use of whiteout or similar correction tools on any part of a petition after it has been signed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who collect signatures for political candidates (circulators).
  • The Board of Elections in Washington, D.C.
  • Political candidates and groups organizing initiatives, referendums, or recalls.

Terms To Know

Affidavit
A written statement that someone signs to say it is true under penalty of perjury.
Circulator
Someone who collects signatures for a political candidate or petition.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution only applies to election petitions in Washington, D.C.
  • It does not specify penalties for breaking these rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0301, Effective from Jan 06, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000460

  2. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0301

  5. 2026-01-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0499 Introduced by Councilmember Bonds at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Petition Administration Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-301

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

January 6, 2026

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the District of
Columbia Election Code of 1955 to require candidate nomination petition affidavits to
state that the circulator has not altered signer information on a petition after a signer has
signed the petition, prohibit anyone from altering signer information provided by the
petition signer, except in cases where the signer requests assistance in signing the petition
before signing the petition, require initiative, referendum, and recall petition affidavits to
state that the circulator has not altered signer information on a petition after a signer has
signed the petition, and prohibit anyone from altering signer information provided by the
petition signer on an initiative, referendum, or recall petition , except in cases where the
signer requests assistance in signing the petition before signing the petition.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as “Petition Administration Clarification Emergency Declaration
Resolution of 2026”.

Sec. 2. (a) The purpose of the underlying emergency measure is to clarify the law
governing ballot access in the District before the Board of Elections releases candidate
nomination petitions for the 2026 primary election cycle. The emergency bill is identical to Bill
26-233, which unanimously passed on first reading on December 16, 2025. This bill would
require petition circulator affidavits to state that the circulator has not altered signer information
on a nomination petition after a signer has signed the petition. It would also prohibit anyone from
altering signer information provided by the petition signer, unless the signer requests assistance
altering their information. The bill also clearly bans the use of whiteout or other correctional fluid.
(b) The Board of Elections will release nomination petitions for the June 2026 primary on
January 23, 2026. Circulators will immediately begin collecting the required signatures for the
candidates for the offices on the 2026 primary ballot. Although Bill 26-233 is on track for Council
approval, it will be months before that bill becomes law due to mayoral and congressional review
periods.
(c) Bill 26-233 has widespread support because it provides clarity to circulators and the
Board of Elections by banning changes to petitions after a signer affixes their signature. The 2026
election cycle will include many high-profile, contested races – including for Delegate, Mayor,
Attorney General, and Chairman of the Council – and it is crucial that we begin the petition
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

2

period with the provisions of this law in effect. The underlying emergency legislation will allow
the public to collect and review candidate petition submissions in accordance with this bill.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Petition
Administration Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 be adopted after a single
reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.