As we look ahead to November’s elections, Georgetown Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates.

Voting Information

Absentee voting is already underway in the District. You may request an absentee ballot here. Unlike many states that have restrictions, anyone can choose to vote absentee in D.C.

If you vote absentee, your ballot should be postmarked on or before Nov. 6 and must arrive by Nov. 16 this year. 

If you moved or changed your name, your previous voter registration may no longer be valid. You can check your voter registration information here. 

You can register to vote and cast a special ballot on the same day, but it's better to register in advance to avoid delays at the polls. Voter registration information, including deadlines, is available here.

Not sure where to vote? You can look up your assigned voting place here.

Presidential Election 

President Barack Obama: D.C. is pretty much a done deal for Democratic presidential candidates. In 2008, then-candidate Sen. Barack Obama got 92.9 percent of the votes from District residents, soundly defeating challenger Sen. John McCain.

Last year, President Obama attended a fundraiser in Georgetown October and announced his jobs plan at the Georgetown waterfront in November. At his Georgetown home in March, Senator John Kerry hosted a $10,000/couple fundraising event for Obama; the president did not attend, but Vice President Joe Biden did.

GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney: The former Massachusetts governor attended a fundraiser in Georgetown June 27. Romney won the DC primary in April with more than two-thirds of the votes.

D.C. has three electoral votes. 

Race for the Council Chairman: Special Election

The special election will fill the seat vacated by Kwame Brown, who resigned two days before he pleaded guilty to a federal bank fraud charge and a misdemeanor campaign finance violation. Councilman Phil Mendelson was selected as the interim chairman by his colleagues. 

Ward 2 Council Seat

Councilman Jack Evans: Evans was unopposed in the April primary and will be the only candidate on the ballot for the Ward 2 member of the District Council in the general election. But he has recently indicated an interest in running for mayor and has been out-raising his fellow councilmembers.

At-Large Member of the Council

There are two at-large seats up for grabs this fall. Four candidates will participate in the Georgetown Candidate Forum, Oct. 4.

The full list of candidates are:

Mary Brooks Beatty is running as a Republican. She is a Ward 6 resident.

Michael A. Brown is running for re-election as an independent; he was first elected in 2008. Brown serves as the Chairman Pro-Tempore and At-Large Councilmember of the Council of the District of Columbia. He is a Ward 4 resident.

A.J. Cooper is running as an independent. He is a Ward 4 resident.

David Grosso is running as an independent. He is a Ward 5 resident.

Vincent Orange is running for re-election as a Democrat; he was elected in the 2011 special election. He is a Ward 5 resident.

Leon J. Swain Jr is running as an independent. He is a Ward 8 resident.

Ann C. Wilcox is running as a member of the State Green Party. She is a Ward 2 resident.

Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives

Eleanor Holmes Norton is running for re-election as a Democrat.

Bruce Majors is running against the incumbent as a Libertarian. 

Natale Lino Stracuzzi is running against the incumbent as a member of the State Green Party.

U.S. Senator (Shadow Senator)

Michael D. Brown is running for re-election as a Democrat.

Nelson F. Rimensnyder is running against the incumbent as a Republican.

David Schwartzman is running against the incumbent as a member of the State Green Party.

U.S. Representative (Shadow Representative)

Nate Bennett-Fleming is the running for election as a Democrat.

G. Lee Aikin is running as a member of the State Green Party.

At-Large Member of the State Board of Education

Mary Lord has been the elected Ward 2 member on the State Board since 2007.

Marvin Tucker is a Ward 5 resident.

Initiative 70: Despite some confusion over the process of verifying signatures, it appears that The Prohibition on Corporate Campaign Contributions Initiative of 2012 will not appear on the ballot this November. 

Three Charter Amendments will also appear on the ballot:

Proposed Charter Amendment V: Expulsion for Gross Misconduct, D.C. Council (ballot text as published in the D.C. Register)

Proposed Charter Amendment VI: Disqualification from Office for Felony Conviction, D.C. Council (ballot text as published in the D.C. Register)

Proposed Charter Amendment VII: Disqualification from Office for Felony Conviction, Mayor (ballot text as published in the D.C. Register)