Washington, D.C. Disfranchisement

when district of columbia established national capital, lands contributed maryland , virginia, residents not allowed vote local or federal representatives, in effort prevent district endangering national government. congress had committee, appointed among representatives elected house, administered city , district in lieu of local or state government. residents did not vote federal representatives appointed oversee them.

in 1804, congress cancelled holding presidential elections in washington, d.c. or allowing residents vote in them. amendment 23 passed congress , ratified in 1964 restore ability of district residents vote in presidential elections.

in 1846, portion of washington, d.c. contributed virginia retrocessioned (returned) virginia protect slavery. persons residing there (in alexandria), vote in local, virginia , elections.

congress uses same portion of constitution exclusively manage local , state level law citizens of washington, d.c. , military bases in us. until 1986, military personnel living on bases considered have special status national representatives , prohibited voting in elections bases located. in 1986, congress passed law enable military personnel living on bases in vote in local , state elections.

the position of non-voting delegate congress district reestablished in 1971. delegate cannot vote bills before house, nor floor votes, may vote procedural , committee matters. in 1973, district of columbia home rule act reestablished local government after hundred-year gap, regular local elections mayor , other posts. not elect senator. people seeking standard representation 600,000 district of columbia residents describe status being disfranchised in relation federal government. vote in presidential elections.

until 2009, no other nato (us military allies) or oecd country (us industrialized allies) had disfranchised citizens of respective national capitals national legislature elections. no state prohibits residents of capitals voting in state elections either, , cities contained within regular representative state , congressional districts.