Washington, D.C. Residents Voting Act

This bill would return most of Washington, D.C., to Maryland. A small core would remain separate as the “Federal District,” covering the Capitol, White House, Supreme Court, major federal buildings, and nearby monuments . Maryland would take over D.C.’s government roles, while ongoing court cases and contracts continue without interruption. Federal land stays federal; D.C.-owned property becomes Maryland’s. The U.S. keeps special control over any military or Coast Guard sites it still owns .

People living in the new Federal District would vote in federal elections by absentee in the last state where they lived. D.C.’s House Delegate would be removed; until the next redistricting, Maryland would get one temporary extra House member . Maryland’s criminal and traffic laws would apply inside the Federal District as federal law. The D.C. National Guard would move into the Maryland National Guard. Certain D.C. retirement benefits and some employee benefits would continue, and some students could keep D.C. college aid they were already using during the changeover. If a law says an office or group must be “in D.C.,” being in the Federal District or the returned area of Maryland would still count .

• Who is affected: D.C. residents, Maryland residents, people living in the new Federal District, D.C. National Guard members, certain D.C. employees and retirees, and students using D.C. college aid .
• What changes: Most of D.C. becomes part of Maryland; a small Federal District remains; voting shifts to absentee in prior state for Federal District residents; Maryland gets a temporary extra U.S. House seat; federal property stays federal; contracts and court cases continue; the National Guard moves to Maryland; select benefits and scholarships continue; location rules are updated to include the Federal District and the returned area .
• When: Only after Maryland votes to accept the land and the President issues a proclamation, and after the 23rd Amendment is repealed; the later of these steps controls .