Washington, D.C. Voting Representation

Archive Report

Constitutional Amendment Debate

Pending Ratification by State Legislatures

All 50 state legislatures1 convene this year — 47 this month — and one question most are likely to consider is the political destiny of the District of Columbia. Specifically, state lawmakers will decide whether to accept or reject a proposed constitutional amendment to grant Washington, D.C., full voting representation in Congress. Approval by at least 38 states in the next seven years is required for the measure to take effect. The proposed amendment would give the District representation in the House based on population; give it Senate representation “as though it were a state”; grant participation in the electoral college; and grant participation in the process whereby the Constitution is amended.

The amendment proposes that the city be ...

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